Eskimo just recently turned 10 and celebrated with an anniversary box set but this new album, The Pink Collection, is the start of something new. The first in a series based around a variety of colours, The Pink Collection is predominantly focused around feelings in music and retains the same hazy melodic electronic sound throughout, with the tracks being specifically created for this release.
The album has a real Scandinavian sound with a number of electronic artists associated with that movement featuring, but it also features artists from around the globe. Australian three piece Holy Models open the album with the lolling and inviting tracking 'Swimming', featuring drenched male vocals and sun-baked grooves. Satin Jackets take up the batten with 'Olivia', a track full of the sort of easy-going-yet-catchy melodies that Röyksopp are famous for. Coincidently Made In Sane actually come from the same town as Röyksopp and their track, 'Flying Circuits' also retains a hint of their sound but applies it to a progressive synth piece that feels like they stole it from Jean Michel Jarre's songbook back in the eighties.
Martin Brodin does Italo gone Ballearic to much success o the sparkling and upbeat 'Lazise 1979' and ATTAR!'s 'The Fool', featuring Cherry, is enjoyable eighties synth-pop influenced house with a slight Stevie Nicks vibe. Unfortunately from here The Pink Collection starts to fall down… There is an imagination to some of the earlier tracks that feels lacking later on, and ultimately it's 78-minutes of music that sounds very similar throughout. The album turns into a pleasant diversion, but nothing on some of Eskimo's finest moments.
It's difficult not to feel that in focusing on original material Eskimo have ultimately compromised their ability to curate, sacrificing the control to select exactly the right song for the right moment. It is an album that suffers in exchange for the ability to sell something exclusive via digital platforms. It's telling that the tracks they have already announced as singles - those by Holy Models, Majestique, Brynjolfur and ATTAR! - are all comparatively strong, it's just a shame the album doesn't quite live up to the promise.
The Pink Collection is out on 2 September through Eskimo Recordings, preview on the Eskimo website and pre-order on CD from Amazon.co.uk.