Hi
all!
This time around it is review time for darker music to keep
things interesting. I personally listen to almost all kinds of music
and say there are just two genres in music: good and bad. What keeps
me interested in music are new discoveries, be it new artist or
genre. That is why the blog focuses on varies styles that have been
left in the shadows of other genres. Well, not hardstyle, but
ebm/darkwave etc., especially now that Synapsi club is calling it
quits. But without further delay, I present you reviews:
Attrition
In Dark Dreams
Here
is totally new artist to me. I've never come across with this unsung
hero. Attrition was formed in 1980 in England by Martin Bowes.
Drones and
tape manipulations released under the title Death House prefigured
dark ambient “isolationism” by almost 10 years, while the group’s
first two proper albums — The Attrition of Reason and Smiling at
the Hypogonder Club — set the tone for the style now known as
darkwave.
Attrition
made his mark on US college radio with a Monkey In A Bin, which was
on compilation Animal Liberation. Since then, Attrition has released
string of albums and has his unique blend of darkness and operatic
female vocals with pounding beats. He is clearly an artist who
doesn't make too easy music but very recognisable, whihch I find good
thing. And now for the record itself, which is a compilation.
As
said, I'm unfamiliar with Attrition's music before, so I had no idea
what to expect. Somehow I found myself drawn into his dark world of
shadows and hypnotic melodies. Beats are heavy, use of spoken samples
is spot-on and use of operatic vocals just works perfectly creating a
personal soundscapes and style in no-compromise style. That is best
way I can think of describing his sound. It is heavy, uneasy in a
way, but somehow hypnotic. To my ears, he has taken some elements
from trance and techno (punding beats, hypnotic progression) and
twisted it into darkwave mold. As for darkwave as genre, I feel like
Columbus who left for India. I'm an explorer of the music and sounds.
A
Girl Called Harmony is a good example of Attrition's use of operatic
vocals, which are the key element of the song, which is quite simple
sounding otherwise. Somehow sounds like someone reading poetry or
reciting a classical story with operatic vocals thrown in the mix. It
is very much of case love it or hate it, totally uncompromised music.
Slow tempo supports the song well and Attrition creates this chaotic,
melodic and hypnotic world where he draws you in. It has something
common with Goblin, evnthough they do sound different, but some
elements and atmosphere is similar. Goblin is best known for Dario
Argento soundtracks.
As
this compilation moves on, we get some strings thrown in and take a
completely u-turn on Acid Tongue, which is techno basically. Same
minimal approach and pulsating rhythm creates same atmosphere as
Detroit techno.
To
summarise things, In Dark Dreams in extremely varied case. It has
some really heavy, uneasy tracks (chaotic, tehcnoish), but on the
other hand really hypnotic, melodic ones. It is really good
introduction to how varied music Attrition has made and how his no
compromise approach shines through. Some songs that were released in
the 80's have that typical aesthetics of that time period, mainly on
sounds but also in a structure. Is this bad or good depends on
listener. It is an album not for everyone, but there are really
varied songs on the collection. At least to me it was very good
introduction to the world of Attrition. I'd recommend to give it a try!
Find Attrition on Bandcamp
Here's another new artist for me Technique with album Touching The Void. Technique hails from warm country of Brazil. Synth-pop isn't the first thing that pops to my mind with Brazil (soccer, samba, drum'n'bass come first), but boy does Technique know their stuff! Sweet melodies, easy on the ear singer's voice work hand in hand. It might be bit too pop to some, but others will definetly appreciate it. I personally like it, I'm sucker for melody :) And did this album sound sweet. besides being pretty pop, it has some darker tones and melancholy thrown in the mix and that I enjoyed.
The album itself is extremely limited as physical release (only 300 pieces worldwide), but can be bought as digital release. There isn't that much new compared to other synth-pop bands, but what separates Technique from rest is their ear for melody, which is just spot-on. They know exactly what they are doing and do it well. Album as whole is constructed well and the tempo never rises over mid-tempo, but there are danceable songs too. The singer's voice isn't strongest one, but he knows his limits and works within those well. What strength the singer's voice might be lacking, he counterbalances with sensitivity.Just perfect record for listening to when wanting to take it bit easier. Highly recommended
Check out their website
Another new name for me, that caught my interest when I started to listen to the album. And now we move on to the other side of the world, over to Germany! Another synth-pop artist and this is their debut album on Scentair records, same label that released the Technique album. But that is were the similarities end. Here we have another well-crafted debut that sounds like the guys have been listening to trip-hop and Moby alongside with Depeche Mode. Sometimes the singer's voice reminds Bernard Summer's voice of New Order a bit. Good melodies once again and singer has voice that works well with the melodies and sounds. Hidden Traces is melancholic album with beautiful melodies and mournful singer backed up by soundscapes that go hand in hand perfectly. Some songs really reminded me of De/Vision, whom fan I am. These melodies and songs are bittersweet and just perfect, emotional music, that is beautiful.
If I heard this on radio, my guess would be band was from UK thanks to the melodies and the singer's good english. Of the two reviewed here, I'd say both have that pop element, but 8ight goes more melancholic and slower road compared to Technique. Don't just take my word for it, check the band out on Youtube:
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