Melotron - Fortschritt (re-release)

'Fortschritt' is not a new album by Melotron, it is the re-release of Melotrons second album which has not been available during the past few years. People who were unable to purchase it in its initial run, can now have it in this re-mastered edition with improved sound-quality.
Whereas the debut album sounded callow, this second release lived up to its promise (Fortschritt = advance) as Melotron were able to improve their compositions. Melotron continued to perform in their native German while writing ambiguous lyrics that allows the listener to interpret the meaning for themselves. The first track 'Du Bist Es Nicht Wert' is reminiscent of 'Moederwerk' Melotron's debut release. The following song 'Nur Leben' surprises with its sentiment and authenticity. The songs also sound more robust and melodic than the previous album. The highlight for me is "Schlaflos" on no other song were Melotron able to so perfectly combine Andy's expressive singing with the dark electronic melodies. The result is an almost frightening emotional soundscape.
On the whole 'Fortschritt' is a well done album; it maintains a consistent sound throughout that should please the listener. Another thing that Melotron achieved with this album was to demonstrate their enormous potential for improvement. With the two successors 'Weltfrieden' and 'Sternenstaub' and the new album 'Cliché', we have seen and expect to continue to see the further development of their musical talent

Melotron - Wenn Wir Wollten (Maxi-CD)

'Wenn Wir Wollten' (= when people want to) is the harbinger of the new Melotron album which will be released by the end of June 2005. Melotron continue to perform in German. They rely on pulsating beats, a very catchy refrain and powerful singing which are the hallmarks of its predecessor 'Sternenstaub'. 'Wenn Wir Wollten' therefore does not deliver anything new but continues the quality of composition that Melotron has quickly become known for. In short it's a very melodic and danceable song, which carries a kind of encouraging message to the people, especially the citizens of Germany which have to contend with bad economical / political situations.
I appreciate the real 'Lange Version' (extended version) remix which stays true to the sound of the original and just extends the instrumental parts, as we know from old Depeche Mode or Erasure remixes done by Flood or Daniel Miller.
The single also includes a club mix of the album track 'Menschenfresser' (= man-eater) which is a dark and foreboding song based on heavy synthetic sounds. It is reminiscent of And One's 'Panzermensch' (= tank man) or similar J.

After the quasi best of album 'Colonisation' the Swedish duo is back with a thirteen track album 'Fixed'. As always Colony 5 are sovereignly melancholic and are presenting a set of catchy SynthPoP songs based on propellant beats. Colony 5 still used sometimes 'shop-soiled' synthesizer sounds which are responsible for an eighties kick. But the modern structured compositions give it a timeless quality. The slightly speedy tracks (e.g. 'Big Bothel', 'Fusion', 'Plastic World', 'Like Lives', 'Misery') always have a catchy refrain and are dancefloor friendly. I miss the melodic refrains in the ballads which sound laboured and boring instead of sensitive and affecting. Also Colony 5 does not feature a wide variety of songs on 'Fixed'. The songs are consistently built on the same structures where similar sounds and beats are combined with the always monotonous singing. Like in process Colony made use of a modular design and are producing cookie cutter songs. Some songs are able to amuse the listener, but for the whole length the album it loses its suspense from the third track and seeps into the non indistinct melting pot of electronic melodies.
In my opinion, Colony 5 should have invested much more time in 'Fixed' to make a step forward in their creativity. 'Fixed' is a superfluous album which only hardcore Colony 5 fans will want to have in their collection.

'Later Tonight' is the debut album by the Italian trio Babylonia. The music by Babylonia is classified as dark and very melancholy SynthPoP music having a melodic core and vast electronic soundscapes. Babylonia also uses stripped down elements like acoustic guitars to successfully reduce the sterility and coldness that can sometime be found in electronic composition.

The album uniquely starts with the piano supported ballad 'Something Epic' followed by another ballad 'A New Evelation (Revelation)'. Both tracks are very melancholy, especially 'A New Evelation' it surprises with a massive dark electronic backdrop.
For the third track 'Everything's 4 U' Babylonia increased the speed and present a melodic mid-speed track which includes a very catchy refrain. The following track 'That Big Lie' still keeps the tempo and convinces with a heavy grinding bass line and excellent vocal. In my opinion these two songs and the single 'Catch Me' are the strongest songs on this album and imposingly show the skills of Babylonia in producing ambitious music which disassociates itself from the usual electronic melting pot.
The fifth track 'To Die 4' is another very dark ballad which could cause an episode of depression. But the next track 'Catch Me' which is also available as a single, galvanizes the listeners with powerful beats and a catchy melody while keeping a portion of the band signature melancholy. The seventh track is an instrumental number which is followed by the ballad 'This Is My Life' and the experimental track 'What R U Doin' With That Old Fag Car?'. Just skip forward to the tenth track '(If U Want) My Love' which represents a danceable mid-speed track where Babylonia builds in some striking sound-elements. Now the album draws to its close and gently fades out with three sensitive ballads.

On the whole 'Later Tonight' is a very melancholy album, best listened to on days where melancholy music won't destroy happiness in your life. Babylonia proved their skill in producing huge, sometimes almost back-breaking sound structures. Also the vocal qualities keep up with the compositions. While, 'Later Tonight' is kept very melancholy and dark, this is the only cause for criticism, I would appreciate more 'refreshing' tracks which are not kept in minor. Babylonia released an album that is the antithesis of the music release by their fellow countrymen 'Syrian'.