P.M. DAWN
"Amnesia"
Karmis/Caroline (KMS 0005)
Release Date: October 15, 2002

"Amnesia" is the lead-off single for P.M. Dawn's The Jim Sullivan Syndrome album. "Amnesia" sounds inspired by "old school" soul songs from the 1970's and early 1980's, and features some very good vocal harmonies. The track is a mid-to-uptempo song about seeing yourself in someone else, but at the same time, not truly knowing yourself. Near the end of the song, there are "record scratch" sounds; the last line of vocal is distorted, and the song ends with a very abrupt fade out. Overall, "Amnesia" is a very good song, but some slight modifications to the ending of the song would make it even stronger.

"Being Nowhere," the next track on the single, is an exclusive B-side, which also has an "old school" soul sound to it. However, unlike "Amnesia," this song is a ballad. Thematically, the lyrics are about a relationship that is standing still and not progressing anywhere. This is not a bad track, but the last minute or so becomes rather redundant and drags the song down.

The last track on the single is an instrumental of "Amnesia." Some background vocals do appear in the instrumental, however (basically, some "ooh"s).

Overall, this is a decent single, and should be in a collection of a P.M. Dawn fan. However, if you're looking for the next "Set Adrift On Memory Bliss," then perhaps this single is not for you.

(reviewed by Lesley Muir on January 13, 2003)