Colonia

A successful debut album in 2001 didn’t rush the members of A Camp back into the studio. But a safari trip to South Africa and main member Nina Persson's own restless creativity eventually sent this side project back into a proper studio to flesh out these creative asides. With Atomic Swing founder Niclas Frisk, Persson’s husband, former Shudder To Think guitarist, and Think’s former drummer Kevin March forming the core of her backing band, Persson invited guests like Swedish legend Nicolai Dunger to duet for “Golden Teeth and Silver Medals,” cellist Jane Scarpantoni (R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen), and Sparklehorse’s Mark Linkous (who produced the first A Camp album). Despite the many contributors, the album still settles into Persson’s vision. “It’s Not Easy to be Human” and “The Weed Had Got There First” focus on Persson’s personal dreams and fears. “Bear On the Beach” could be from the soundtrack of a desperate Scandinavian film with its wintry desolation, while “My America” comes romping back with a touch of ‘60s horn-torched girl group pop.