Reviewed by Mitch Andrews and posted on July 14, 2017

"Forever" is the 6th studio album of Swedish act Smile.dk. First teased in late 2009 as "The Makeup Collection," the album was renamed to "Forever" around the time of Cecilia Reiskog’s departure, leaving only founding member Veronica Almqvist to lead the group as a solo project. The album is aptly titled, and due to various issues with the label, as well as commitments in Veronica’s personal life, the album really did take forever - a whopping 7 years to complete.

Christian Wolf, who was originally involved with Smile.dk during their "Future Girls" days, is the producer behind the new album, and has really done a fantastic job. The songs are expertly produced with intricate detail, and the vocals are layered in such a way that it’s easy to forget that there is only one singer. The previously released songs "Our Little Corner" and "Moshi Moshi" (which has been rerecorded to feature only Veronica) also see a slight rework to fit in with the album’s overall style, and are clear highlights on the album for those who might not have heard them before.

The album opens with the extremely strong "Karaoke Star" which is a definite nod to Smile.dk’s early style and features Veronica singing about how she wishes she was a karaoke star. The song had me hooked right at the beginning with that beautiful Djumbo-esque piano that transitioned into a thumping bubblegum anthem. The catchy "ooh ah!’s" as well as cheeky lyrics ("I wanna have your boobs?") make this one of my top Smile.dk songs ever, and the perfect choice to open the album.

The reworked songs on the album are "Boys", "Mr Wonderful" and "Butterfly" from their first album, and "Future Girls" and "Dragonfly" from their 2000 album. No new versions of tracks from "Golden Sky" or "Party Around The World" were made. The new version of "Boys" is hectic and I love it. Rippling with energy, it would have been perfect for Dance Dance Revolution (hard level, obviously), and if the new dance game "Step Mania X" from Kyle Ward doesn’t approach the label to license it (along with other tracks from this album) then I’ll be surprised.

Both "Butterfly" and "Dragonfly" have been transformed into hauntingly beautiful ballads with Veronica showing off her stunning vocal ability, comparable to the lovely "Counting On You" from "Future Girls." "Mr Wonderful" and "Future Girls" feature a new funky dance style, slightly slower in tempo to their originals, and less euro. Both of the dance remakes are a lot of fun, but in my opinions the originals are still superior.

Back to the new songs, Smile.dk returns again to their roots with "Within a Fantasy." The song begins slow and enchanting, reminding me of the melancholic part in a Disney film, before blasting into a fully recognised bubblegum song. Some of the verses are lacking a bit of thickness, but the powerful chorus makes up for that, especially when combined with that delicious synth. "Einstein on the Beach" is an unusual one, and I think it’s about Veronica falling in love with a geek who also loves going to the beach. Not my favourite track on the album, but not bad. Also included is a feel good pop tune "Kick Back" which reminds me a little of Creamy’s "We Got The Time."

"My Candycrush" is a bubblegum dance fan’s absolute dream. High energy and loaded with sugary lyrics that could rot your teeth, this tune is by far the cheesiest on the album, and the most true to traditional Smile.dk. "Walking hand in hand with the sweetest man, you give me sugar rush." Production wise, I’m reminded of past hits such as "Kissy Kissy" and "Domo Domo Domo," probably due to the "Japanese" styled synth melody. The break down at 2:02 is also great - there’s something about Veronica reeling off all those delicious things that make me smile so much. Honestly, if I had to I’d buy this album for this song alone.

Smile.dk closes the album with a jazz cover of Charlie Chaplin’s "Smile," also made popular by Michael Jackson in 1995. A surprise addition to the album, Veronica’s singing ability really shines in this song, and the passion in her performance is obvious. Funny thought: if Veronica’s goal was to be a karaoke star as outlined by the opening number, then maybe this is her making it big in a Japanese karaoke bar - all that’s missing is the audience’s applause and cheer at the end. ;)

Overall, "Forever" is a great addition to the Smile.dk legacy. Is it worth a 7 year wait? Possibly. More than anything I’m just glad to finally have it. There are some really great original songs on this release, my favourites being "Karaoke Star" and "My Candycrush." Compared to their earlier albums, I do think the likes of "Future Girls" and "Golden Sky" are still better, and the writing on "Party Around the World" is superior, however the Smile.dk team have brought something truly special with this album. You can hear how much work has gone into the detailed production, and it’s wonderful to see Veronica working so hard for her project even if it means continuing it solo. Thank you team Smile.dk for making this album happen!