Amazon.co.uk Review
Danish group Aqua arrived on the international pop scene in 1997 with their multi-million selling smash "Barbie Girl". Developing a formula pioneered by their successful Swedish rivals
Ace of Base and
Whigfield, this album demonstrated that the band were more than just one hit wonders. Skilfully crafted for instant, easily digestible consumption,
Aqua is equally entertaining at the club or at home. It is jammed full of bubble-gum pop classics, ranging from the Euro-disco opening track "Happy Girls And Happy Boys", to the
Madonna-esque ballad "Turn Back Time". It is a treat for all pop lovers: an album which will both entertain and surprise. - -
John Galilee
CD Description
AQUARIUM isn't the place to turn if you're looking for introspective, soul-searching meditiations on the meaning of life and the universe. But if you like techno bubble gum this might just be a little slice of heaven. They love it in Denmark, where the album went quintuple platinum, and they love it in the clubs, because the mechanical, boppy, sing-songiness makes for the perfect dance music. "Happy Boys and Girls",the disc's opening track, is a perfect representation of the Aqua sound: "Be happy" squeal the little-girl backup singers. The drum machine kicks in, mechanical high-hat hissing away, and you can just see those European dance floors filling up with happy Danish boys and girls. This disc has a tongue-in-cheek feel to it, as if Aqua is almost satirising the techno-dance genre, but it's basically harmless, good-naturedfun.