100%

From time to time on the independent music scene appears a phenomenon, which unites the fans of electro, EBM, trip hop or even mainstream music. Sisters of Mercy or Depeche Mode could be called such phenomenon. Switchblade Symphony now joins this club. The release of this ladies duet's debut album shook up the underground music scene. Since then, each of their next albums has been a complete success. What we've got here is  „Sinister Nostalgia”, a collection of remixes of, I think, the best recordings ever released by the group. The album begins with Apoptygma Berzerk with its highly addictive beat. Only vocals remained from the original „Sweet”. The next recording, „Dollhouse”,  has similar a mode, but with one difference – RIB left the main melody and cut the vocal into pieces -splendid effect! „Dissolve” and „Cocoon” on the other hand, are two separate genres:  the first is of trip hop, while the second represents noise. The recording „Clown” hasn't been changed significantly , the main elements of the original have been saved. Similarly in „Insect” , where the sound is more powerful in  6am Eternal   version. After that we return to darkwave – trip hop modes, this time in  Keith Hillenbrandt's mix. The whole album intersperses different styles, so the next recording is a return to dance - electronic modes. “ Invisible” in  Endangered version is a certain dancefloor success. Next, we pass to my favourite one - “ Rampid”. The calm recording, to some extent even relaxing.  Great lyrics sung in the best of possible ways. I can't imagine anyone doing it the way  Switchblade Symphony does. Julian Beeston makes the vocal play the main part whereas music remains in the background. The recording „Witches” isn't changes much: there are additional sounds, vocal lines added to the original version. Naked Birthday [Gothastic mix] is certain to win the hearts of industrial and guitar music fans. Rosetta Stone made another remix of „Cocoon”, but this time it is definitely faster and more melodious version, however, not electronic. Entrapture has changed the „Dirty Dog” completely, and at the moment it's even hard to classify it. The last remix was made by Susan Wallace herself, one of the Ladies of Switchblade Symphony duet. This is a calm, darkwave recording, which is perfectly to close the whole album. Why did I decide to such a form of review? Well... because I think that each of the recordings deserves a separate description  - each of them is a phenomenon in its own way. This is one of my favourite albums, and, although I don't do it that often,  I won't hesitate to give it 100% note.

1. Sweet [Apoptygma Berzerk Mix]
2. Dollhouse [Razed in Black Mix]
3. Dissolve [Messy Mix]
4. Cocoon [Meegs Mix]
5. Clown [Mother's Mix]
6. Insect [6am Eternal Mix]
7. Dissolve [Keith Hillebrandt Mix]
8. Invisible [Endanger Mix]
9. Rampid [Shining Mix]
10. Witches [Temple of Rain Mix]
11. Naked Birthday [Gothtastic Mix]
12. Cocoon [Rosetta Stone Mix]
13. Dirty Dog [Enrapture Mix]
14. Wicked [Exit Signs Mix]

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