VARIOUS ARTISTS - Living ON Video (DVD)

I was amazed when I saw that the tiny label "Cohaagen Music" (www.cohaagen.com) released a music DVD that includes about 20 videos by more or less known SynthPoP bands. Bands like Soviet, Neuropa, Gary Flanagan, Fr/action, Ganymede, Brave New World, B!Machine, Cosmicity,
NUKLEON and many more got the opportunity to present their videos on this DVD. So, for people like me, it is a unique chance to experience who is standing behind the band name.
I have to mention that the quality of the videos is between good and moderate which is mainly due to the low budget for the video-production. It lost a little bit of sharpness caused by an effective noise filter - colors and contrast are quite good. "Living On Video" delivers a good to very good 2.0 sound quality and an additional track that includes commentaries by the bands themselves.
The DVD is region-free and in NTSC format. Therefore you need a NTSC compatible DVD-Player and at least here in Austria/Germany a NTSC/PAL60 capable TV. As special Features it delivers an uncompressed PCM audio track, band infos and discographies.
This DVD is a must for any SynthPoP addict and it delivers a short but vivid view to the synth underground.

NAMNAMBULU (NNB) - Distances & Memories (E.P.)

The review of NNBs debut full length album "DISTANCES" and their limited edition single "MEMORIES" should have been released in August. Unfortunately, the Swiss mail and other circumstances were responsible for a delayed delivery. Despite all that, I am now really happy to be holding these two CDs in my hand.

"DISTANCES" includes 4 tracks which were previously released on the EP "Blind?" in 2002. Those tracks got reworked and are now dressed in a more modern garment. NNBs trademark is the singer's striking voice, which combines composure, melancholy and darkness without sounding too obtrusive. The melodies are based on simple but massive foundations which are a little bit 80s influenced. NNB have proven their ability to produce proper SynthPoP songs that sound rich without using too many sounds. They also did not forget to build in a very memorable melodic refrain in each song.

I'd like to hear a little bit more variation concerning the use of the sounds. The whole album sounds like a single piece, each track complementing one another, but at the expense of variation. When listening to the album it quickly loses its freshness and my attention from the middle to the end.

The limited club single "MEMORIES" presents 7 well-done remixes of the album track "Memories" and one remix of the track "Now Or Never". The single is delivered in an exceptional black plastic case which also delivers something special for the eyes. The remixes are convincing, with danceable beats and intelligent enhancements which transform the original version to high-energy techno and trance influenced tracks (e.g. remix by diskonnekted, vox celesta).

"DISTANCES" and the single "MEMORIES" are NNBs signposts in the direction of dark and melancholy SynthPoP music - music I've really missed these last few years, which is now available!

DAYS OF TRIUMPH - Head And The Chainsaw

"Head And The Chainsaw" is the debut album of German newcomer "Days of Triumph", founded in 1994. The album is characterized by dark, very melancholy and slow-unravelling melodies. The singing is monotonous to effectively reinforce the dark and sometimes depressing melodies. Playful beats and minimalist synthetic sounds prevent the listener from sliding into full depression. With "Head And The Chainsaw", Days Of Triumph risked a tightrope walk between melancholy and dark depression. Though I like very melodic and melancholy albums, this debut sounds too laboured. I sometimes had the feeling that it doesn't build enough momentum and that it gets stuck in a slough of depression.

Still, "Head And The Chainsaw" has some innovative fundamentals. I will keep an eye on the band's development.

AND ONE - Aggressor

Barely three years have passed since AND ONE released their best-selling album "VIRGIN SUPERSTAR". Well, three years is plenty of time to come up with enhancements to their style. Unfortunately, when listening to "AGGRESSOR" I get the feeling that AND ONE only used the break for relaxing and putting aside their music. Many people will agree with the fact that AND ONE restarted exactly where "VIRGIN SUPERSTAR" ended. I am a little bit disappointed. "AGGRESSOR" sounds typical of AND ONE, based on plain simply-woven compositions, hard drums and melodic refrains which are sometimes supported by 'women power'.
The only thing that really differs from its predecessor is the consistent use of German lyrics. In the main it isn't a bad album - on the contrary - it is quite good, but does not offer any new innovations or improvements. People who agree with my opinion about "AGGRESSOR" should listen to the recent album "Sternenstaub" of MELOTRON. The listener will realize that MELOTRON have yet outdone AND ONE in diversity and creativity.

All in all, "AGGRESSOR" is a well done album. However, it would not be missed if AND ONE hadn't released it.