Iris - Wrath

This is the third album by the American band IRIS from Austin, Texas. Due to the fact that the predecessors to this album were outstanding the expectations for 'Wrath' were enormous. Also Iris have been able to increase their stature and reputation in Europe by doing live gigs in 2004 unfortunately around Austria (Switzerland, Germany) as supporter of De/vision. With 'Wrath' Iris met all the expectations which has been proved by a top ten position in the German alternative charts in October 2005.

Looking back on seven years history for the band, I have never heard any worse Iris song. Also the third album features ten exceptional songs. Both ballads and mid-speed songs are able to catch the full attention of the listener. Each song has a very melodic and catchy core which is completed by warm electronic sounds, additional electric guitars and finally by Reagan's clear and powerful voice.
For 'Wrath' Iris is effectively covering the synthetic elements using 'real' guitars and drums. The compositions of Iris now sound more authentic than before. Sometimes I have the feeling that Iris tried to leave their electronic roots in compositions like Appetite and Lands Of Fire but on songs like 'Guide On Raging Stars', 68 and 'Hells Coming With Me' they still prove that their souls are electronic.

'Wrath' is a very harmonious album which characteristically solid like a rock and gentle like silk. Some will call 'Wrath' the best Iris album so far while other people will miss the playful synthetic elements which formed the debut album 'Disconnect'. For me, 'Wrath' is the logical result of the evolution of Iris and one of the best electronic releases of this year.

Apoptygma Berzek - You And Me Against The World (limited edition)

Apoptygma Berzerk are one of those Synth-Pop artists who cultivated the combination of EBM, Techno and Pop, or in short Future-Pop. In my last two reviews which included 'Welcome To Earth' and 'Harmonizer' I criticized the superfluous experimental tracks which did not offer any content. There are no such tracks available on 'You And Me Against The World'. Apoptygma did however make the jump to a more guitar influenced electronic music. This includes some hard guitar-riffs which can be best described as 'Electro-Rock'. Intrinsically I am not surprised as Apoptygma has always used guitars during their live gigs and has always shown their 'rocky' behavior.

On 'You And Me Against The World' guitars and drums no drum machines were overlaid on a solid electronic foundation. On the whole the electronic ingredients still dominate Apoptygma's music (e.g. 'You Keep Me From Breaking Apart' and 'Lost In Translation'). So the acoustic elements expertly complete the electronic sound backdrops and are able to create a more powerful musical soundscape.
The limited edition also boast an instrumental intro, 10 brand new tracks, an additional Kim Wilde cover version called 'Cambodia' happily absent are the aforementioned experimental tracks.

'You And Me Against The World' is a very coherent and alluring album which leaves nothing to be desired. In my opinion it is Apoptygmas best album so far!

The american label A Different Drum is presenting the fourth SynthPoP compilation featuring club-capable remixes of label releases. This 2CD album includes the following songs:

Disc 1

Rename - In Different Things (usa club mix)
Raindancer - Come With Me (extended dance mix)
Wave In Head - Because Of You (electrobeat mix by Das Schwarze System)
Cosmic Ally - Paranoid
Rupesh Cartel - Contract (rename's legalese mix)
Blue October - Free (liberation mix)
Wideband Network - Show Me Love (oceandrive sand in my shoes mix)
Monica Schroeder - Poison (dj ram mix)
Provision - Could've Had It All (daybehavior mix)
Somegirl - Fell Free (stitch edit)

Disc 2

Monolithic - Away From Here
Silica Gel - La Mitad (empty-sosofo mix)
A Blue Ocean Dream - Down To Vegas
Capsize - Dissatisfaction Guaranteed (cistran's mix)
Nevarakka - Audiophilosophy
The Dignity Of Labour - Chant (defiant remix)
Leiahdorus - Kiss On The Telephone (b! machine alternate)
Opium - Puzzle (maxx mix)
Michigan - Red Dawn (virtual server mix)
Syrian - Enforcer (nimm das! remix by NamNamBulu)

This compilation is highly recommended to all people who like trance and techno influenced SynthPoP music. It also shows the strength of ADD's efforts in spreading electronic music arround the world.

In addition to the Clubanthems compilations, A Different Drum presents romantic and sometimes dark label releases on this compilation.

Volume 3 is featuring the following label releases:

Intuition - Heaven
Pristina - So Alive
Michigan - Control Of Me
Ultraviolet - A Sea Of Purity
Leiahdorus - S.O.S.
Somegirl - Forgive You
Rename - In Different Things
Ruphes Cartel - A Switch
Nevarakka - Why
Wave In Head - On The Corner
Silica Gel - Cayendo
B!Machine - != Girlfiend
Junk Circuit - Reunite
Blue October - Light Over Dark
Opium - Winter Rose

This is a diversified compilation which shows the more sensitive side of ADD label artists, which is able to create a warm melancholy mood.