Ace of Base – Golden Ratio [Reviews]

To most within the American audience, Ace of Base hasn’t been on the radar since the band’s 1998 remake of Banarama‘s “Cruel Summer,” but for many, their relevance faded after 1995′s The Bridge.

The band is back after a long hiatus with The Golden Ratio, but missing are Jenny and Linn, who have been replaced for various reasons by Julia and Clara. What remains consistent is the group’s commitment to creating pure pop that attempts to go deep with its lyrics.

Perhaps nowhere is this more true on the disc than on “One Day,” which delivers the confusing lines “Maybe I’m a gambler/Tired of this bodegas/Some say I’m a rambler/Searching for my Vegas.” What the track lacks in clarity, it more than makes up for in Ace of Base’s traditional sound of club- and reggae-inspired rhythms, which also rear their heads on “Mr. Replay” and “Told Ya Ma.”

A rhythm of the electronic variety is found on “Vision in Blue,” which borrows the synthesizers of ’80s club records before diving deep into Euro house. The song gets more complex with its trance-like atmospherics and hazy lyrics. Equally caffeinated is “Doreen,” whose flavor is more pop, but convincingly dance — the type that could be as comfortable next to Usher‘s “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love” as Olive‘s “You’re Not Alone.”

Retreating from pop and embracing a bluesy sound is “Southern California,” which sonically and lyrically evokes comparisons to The Eagles‘s “Hotel California,” though the vocals here are a bit more aggressive. The tone is continued on the accordion-tinged “Who Am I,” which serves as the album’s slow poetic introspection.

The most contemporary contribution to the album is the lead single, “All for You,” which references (and likely inspires) the work of Lady Gaga, yet remains true to the rest of the compilation and sounds like a natural progression for the group.

The Golden Ratio succeeds in doing what many “long break in between” records fail to accomplish. It provides current renditions of what fans have come to expect from Ace of Base, along with some nostalgic contributions. But, much like The Bridge, The Golden Ratio isn’t afraid to experiment with other sounds that keep even the most dedicated fans intrigued from track to track.

That’s My Jam’s Rating:
5. Get It Now
4. Get It On Sale
3. Get It As a Gift
2. Get It To a CD Exchange Store
1. Don’t Get It At All

Track List:
1. “All for You”
2. “Blah Blah Blah (On the Radio)”
3. “The Golden Ratio”
4. “Southern California”
5. “Told Ya Ma”
6. “Black Sea”
7. “One Day”
8. “Juliet”
9. “Precious”
10. “Vision in Blue”
11. “Mr. Replay”
12. “Who Am I”
13. “Doreen”