NamNamBulu - Expansion

After the excellent debut "Blind?" in 2002, the debut album "Distances" and the exciting single "Memories" in 2003, NNB is trying to fill the gap of their 2nd full-length album with the E.P. Expansion which delivers 6 brand new songs and several remixes of older tracks.
The E.P. starts with the title "Faces" which has the NNB typical singing and modern, mid-speed electronic musical background featuring trance and techno elements. The following track "Game" represents a well done SynthPoP song carried by a peppy beat and supported by melancholic singing. With the third title "Zeit" (= Time), NNB is presenting their first song supported by German lyrics. The musical accompaniment is analogue to the preview track. NNB also succeeded in supplying a pleasant alternative with the little journey into EBM music during the fourth title "Forgiving". It starts with very aggressive and disturbed singing and dissolves into a melancholic SynthPoP song from the middle part until the end. The mid-speed fifth track "Perspective" runs mellifluously without any notable conspicuousness. Finally "Transcending" is stealing "Expansions" power taking the album to an end.
Five additional remixes of older and newer songs and the PC-video of "Memories" are grading up the E.P. and expand it to a twelve track release. The remixes are warily keeping the NNB original sounds and are able to enrich them with modern electronic elements and little variations.
"Expansion" is a welcome release by NNB where they stick to their basic idea of making appropriate melancholic electronic music based on minimalist and effective sound foundations. As on "Distances" I still have to demand more variations concerning the compositions and intonation.

SYRIAN - De-Synchronized

The Italian band Syrian (www.spacetalk.net) is another finding by the master of SynthPoP Todd Durrant of the American label "A Different Drum" (www.adifferentdrum.com). Their music is characterized by fast pulsating beats in combination with mid to heavy techno and trance elements. It has something of Italian techno and dance music which reminds us of Italian pop stars like Gigi D'Agostino or Prezioso. But, the musical background is kept melancholic and somewhat dark, which means Syrian keeps a balance between ordinary euro-dance and futurepop music along with the tendencies common to SynthPoP.
Unfortunately the singing qualities don't keep up with the musical ones. It sounds weak and powerless and the singer's articulation of English lyrics betrays his Italian origin. Syrian also used a vocoder to alternate the voices to fit the technical sound and their liking of Science Fiction, Space and Universe.
All the same De-Synchronizes offers some excellent club-capable tracks (e.g. "No Atmosphere", "Vega Velocity", "Space Overdrive", "She Is The Dark", "Now Is Forever") in combination with up-to-date SynthPoP songs (e.g. "Vision", "One More Vision", "Wasted Years", "Starless").
This album suits perfectly for techno-trance as well as futurepop addict listeners and is a must for all people who like very technical, fast and pulsating electronic music.
CD-Maxis of the songs "Space Overdrive" and "No Atmosphere" are included representing highly recommended club remixes. Also included are other album tracks (e.g. Vega Velocity) and some b-sides like "An Infinite Summer", "Navigation" and "Flowers Fade" and the computer animated science-fiction video of the album opener "She Is The Dark".

Intuition - Further

Intuition is the duo of vocalist Garrett Miles and programmer Ken Porter from Phoenix, Arizona. They were discovered by the American label "A Different Drum" (www.adifferentdrum.com). After their debut single "Two" in 2002 they released their debut album "Further" in 2003 on A Different Drum.
In comparison with other electronic artists, their singing is excellent and plays an important part in every song. It's jauntily and playfully flowing like clear and crystal water. The carefully made minimalist electronic background results in a solid musical basis.
The emphatic compositions and the selection of "warm" electronic sounds perfectly matched with proper singing gently seduces the listeners into the world of love and emotions. Some mid-speed titles (e.g. "Two", "So Easy", "I Want You Back") are pleasant alternatives to the ballads which are aerating the melancholic moods. So the balance between ballads and danceable songs is preserved.
Finally, "Further" delivers 12 varied songs and is the perfect album for people who prefer romantic electronic music or for those who want to feel "butterflies in their stomach".

The German band "The Cascades" makes pure gothic rock that sounds like a mixture of "Him" and "Sisters Of Mercy". They focus on melancholic and dark harmonies and are able to create a very somber mood based on mid-tempo compositions (e.g. "Spells and Ceremonies"). Most songs feature some hard guitar riffs but mostly their compositions rely on magical sounds made by synthesizers. In the background the listener will recognize an omnipresent Gregorian like singing. To make a long story short, here are the highlights:

• "Spiritual Symphony" focuses on a groovy baseline.
• "4 Elements" increases the tempo
• "Forever A Fool" convinces with calm seducing guitar intros.
• "Disappointed" delivers the hardest riffs and reminds us of "Rammstein"
• "Revolution Come" has a very high and powerful amplifier.

As we go on listening, more and more the vocalist sounds like Andrew Eldritch of Sisters Of Mercy, but on the whole "The Cascades" is quieter and more melodic than them. The negative point of this album is "Ihr Werdet Sein" which represents a sleazy copy of Rammstein with a curiously and unnecessary deep singing.
People who are searching for a depressive and dark CD will appreciate this release. But pay attention, it's not the suitable sound for hot summer parties.