A Camp
Colonia

Nina Persson, lead Cardigan, has already proved her worth as an unaccompanied artist. Her debut foray into the solo world - 2001's 'A Camp' - was a lovely collection of pastoral, unassuming folk and alt-country songs produced by Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous. For her second record, Linkous surrenders the reins (although he does make a guest appearance on one track here) to Persson herself, who is aided by her composer husband Nathan Larson and Swedish musician Niclas Frisk.

These days, A Camp is a band, not a solo project - but that's not the only difference here. From the outset, it's immediately clear that 'Colonia' is an entirely different prospect to its predecessor. Opening track 'The Crowning', a sweeping, grandiose celebration of whimsical chamber-pop, sounds like it was written by Rufus Wainwright, and the orchestral theme running throughout most of the album suits its colonial theme (apparently inspired by a trip to South Africa).

Nevertheless, it proves difficult for Persson to avoid dipping into her indie-pop background, and it'd be a shame if she didn't, too. 'Stronger Than Jesus', 'My America' and 'It's Not Easy to Be Human' are soaring, euphoric and melancholic in equal measures, while 'Love Has Left the Room' and 'How Many Wild Animals' are slinky, sexy, '60s girl group-inspired numbers. Encased in Persson's pure, peak-of-a-mountain vocals, it's hard to resist the charm of this imperfect, but thoroughly likeable album.

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