80%

"Omen" is the first quasi-official publishing of Bete Noire - the band from Wrocław. Gentlemen take pleasure in exploring sounds of cold wave or rock grounding and colour them with electronic elements. The demo CD, as this is way the material should be classified, includes 15 unpretentious tracks interlaced with interesting instrumental impromptus. Over the whole the ephemeral breath of existential melancholia floats, often bathed in enigmatic lyrics that leave a wide space for interpretation. At the same time Bete Noire is far from programmatic gloom. It seems that the musical landscape is created naturally without unnecessary formality on the surface ( vide ideology “ making music climate on force”. Here, there's nothing like stylistic volta. The band from Wrocław constantly sticks to their style (original ,true, yet not to the end). I personally don't mind if the band knows how to get inspiration from the rich musical tradition: after all it's better than the crap with the intention to make over-intellectualized originality. Bete Noire has potential to abstract its art from certain stylistic bonds on condition that they won't resign from their music search. While listening to the CD “Omen” I had an impression that what the band lacks is not ideas and imagination, but rather a concept, at least vestigial. First of all the demo is a bit too long, however it lets the detailed familiarity with the music of BN (that's the demo's function, isn't it?). Then, if we take the cognitive values into consideration, there are plenty of them: they attract attention lulling senses and in consequence dull the imagination's working. Paradoxically, I do not mean rash long tracks and boredom of the overtime minutes, on contrary, I may openly state that each track is of high quality. I only try to point out that there's no place for imagination where everything is given straightforwardly. Bete Noire's output, though corresponds with typically uncommercial playing, contains elements for the future hits as well (e.g. “już”, "płeć anioła" etc.). It's definitely the evidence of versatility and openness to the various listener's tastes the musicians present ( obviously up to the point). Generally speaking, the band's promo material is really worth attention. The feeling is intensified by the fact that the demo was produced decently and that its sound is clear. I wish them good luck in questing the artistic paths!

1.Omen
2. Już
3. Other Voices
4. Na cztery strony
5. Linie
6. Jutrowczoraj
7. Płeć anioła
8. Lśnienie
9. Nothing At All
10. Lód
11. Jak nic
12. Śniegu ślady
13....Of Lonely Hours
14. Taniec starca
15. My Revenge
16. Pod niebieski wagon
17. Kamienne obłoki

Other articles:

• DarkBeat Festival - 2006-03-27 (Live reports)
• Inerview with Bete Noire - 2005-11-14 (Interviews)

Newest comments: