Löwy/Javelin-Broken Surface

Yet another brilliant project from Harald Löwy, mastermind behind Chandeen, quite possibly the only contender’s to La Floa Maldita’s dream-pop throne. This CD also features the ex-singer of Moskwa TV (I dunno who that it though so your guess is as good as mine), painting out an image of a man from Europe and his maiden trip through the super city we call New York City. The CD mixes very gentle piano, trip hop, and a quiet, rainy day sense of pop, with a very Kerouac style of lyric writing and observation. This is the best CD for walking through the city streets on a rainy day, the kind of music I picture in a city film at parts where the characters realize the pivotal point of the film... ... ... or "Great Expectations" (more the modern film than the Dicken’s novel itself). Gentle, never the least bit overpowering, and with that controlled, melancholy atmosphere that seemingly only Harald can bring to the table. And with Javelin’s tongue in cheek lyrics and charismatic singing, it all brings a very unique atmosphere, painting at last a portrait of the city that never sleeps if one takes 9-11 out of the picture and looks at it from it’s whole view. And even a couple of gorgeous dance tracks in the end for the clubbers out there, but done with the same exact emotion that is Harald’s stamp of approval, bringing to mind Cleen’s "Second Path" (we can only hope that he’ll join forces with Daniel Myer one day!).
Rating:10. Also recommended are Chandeen, of course, and Massive Attack, whose work is a bit similar to this. Not to mention brilliant.

Very unique experi-metal release, fusing together elements of Dream Theater, Iron Maiden, Queensrycheand the dark melodic sounds of Mission UK. The sounds constantly switch, from hardcore punk to melodic power metal to gothic metal, bridging very wide gaps between genres effortlessly. The singer’s vocals as well are very diverse too, ranging from melancholy to raging to operatic (in a metal kind of way), keeping in flow with the many experimental phases of the sound. My favorite would have to be the opening track, especially in the chorus line, which is both heavy and melancholy at the same time, reminding me a bit of old school Iron Maiden with a bit of a Mission UK feel to it. The vocalist does remind me a lot of Joeff Tate of Queensryche during the chorus line and in his operatic spots, which is no small feat! Very diverse CD that will keep you guessing and will grow on you very quickly. These guys did their homework regarding crossover of genres, and still being able to fit some well placed keyboards for atmosphere. Energetic, ever-surprising, and devoid of all the stereotypes surrounding the Finnish metal scene. And gotta love the artwork and their 20’s lounge getups! Rating: 10.

OK one note before we start... .I am not much of a fan of death metal vocals at all, nor do I believe death metal is a separate genre like everyone thinks. I think it’s the same exact metal with a guy (or god forbid) a girl growling like a bear choking on a dick. But at times it works. It worked for Crematory, though (1). Their keyboard work at knack for atmosphere kept most of it together, (2). They were far better when they had the non-death metal singer. And bands who cross this and gothic almost always end up on some super cheesy level, ala Cradle of Filth. This one tends to blend those two together nicely at times but stumbles on some ends, like the opening track. Psuedo gothic Tubular bells with a romping corny metal tune and death vocals!?!? It’s fucking horrible! But on the second track it begins to pick up and get me moving, with it’s nice mix of piano cascades and gothic metal guitars. The CD in general stays along those lines, drifting off in death metal vocals here and there. Overall, it’d be better to just sing normal and not overpower the atmosphere with trying to be brutal. But not bad at all though at the same time. It’s keyboard work is masterful to say the least, and the female vocals are superb. Only problem I had with this was the opening track Rule of music here: gothic bells+death metal vocals=shit. Other than that, I’d recommend it. PS, the girl on the front cover is stunning beyond words, that is the kind of beauty that inspires great poets! Rating:8 Also recommended are My Dying Bride and Anathema, the two masters of gothic metal alongside Neurosis. Also if you get to see them, see Paradise Lost on tour now. Think of a heavy more melodic Mission UK with PL’s newer stuff.

Though given my rule of ?fururistic electropop only", this one seems pretty interesting. The tracks remind me of some of the music played in gay nightclubs around my street (no I’m not by the way), very dancefloor oriented and overly happy, in true pop style. Altough the bands on here remind me a lot of Erasure, Psyche and Depeche Mode though, yet not too much. I am a rather untrained ear though in the basic synthpop and electropop fields though, so I may be wrong. A nice little trip back into basic synthpop, pure and simple, away from some of the boom-chukka synthpop so prevailent nowadays. And chock full of bouncing ballads as well, though they are rather peppy! Rating: 8. Anything from Anything Box is also recommended when you’re in that guilty sugary electropop mood. I’m hiding right now and listening to both back to back, then I’m back to my hardass rivethead self by morning, promise! :-)

Old school ambient electro... .. a mix of Autechre atmospheres, Gary Numan circa "Berserker", a bit of Headscan, and Download’s "Effector". Old school synthlines merge over top of minimally placed and constrained beats, with those charming analog synthlines. Sounds at times like the perfect IDM, at others great videogame music for something like Megaman 2 or Guardian Legend. The CD has no particular strong points as this is another one of those CD’s where the flow is in song to song, though I do happen to love "Like Machines". Great for those who love an old school, analog feel to their electro, and it’s hypnotizing qualities. Rating: 9. Also recommended are the above mentioned bands and CD’s, as well as Lassigue Bendthaus.