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Christine Plays Viola - Innocent Awareness


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The music industry has grown to a huge creature. The amount of new music "out there" brings music journalism into a dilemma: selection. No music journal is able to review each and every new album, which means that plenty of music disappears unheard. One or the other gem might be among them. In the end mostly coincidence decides about the reviewer's choice.

One of those gems I am holding right now in my hands and I intend to bring it out of its shadow. Have you heard of "Christine Plays Viola"? Maybe Christine doesn't play the viola, but may provide lovers of exquisite Darkwave with multiple eargasms.

The first track 'Albatross' reveals from which direction Christine Plays Viola come. When deciding to make Darkwave there is hardly a way around Clan of Xymox. Christine Plays Viola, obviously, have the old-school influence, as is becoming audible also with their second track, 'Swallowed Cold Insanity'. Now we are getting somewhere. A real Dancefloor Tragedy. Maybe their most known song is 'Witch of Silence'. But, even if they are great songs, there are better ones on Innocent Awareness. 'Four Steps in Your Hole' for example. This song has even potential to become something like a gothic chill-out hit. It is something to listen to with pleasure and makes you come down. Perhaps the melody won't stay in your head for long, but, for sure, the feeling it transmits.
While the first four songs were like an introduction to the album (also easy-to-go for Darkwave's old-school fans) the album starts to become more innovative and interesting with the title track. It is faster and harder than its predecessors and before you'll realize it, some of your body parts will start to move.
The 'Regressive Self Abnegation' is an instrumental interlude, only to slow down the speed for 'Admire a New Demise', where the vocals suddenly sound like young Robert Smith or even Dave Gahan. However, I like them both. 'Permutations' is a classy Darkwave song with a classy bass-line. A female voice is supporting the sound ambience of spherical synths and drums. While the rest of Innocent Awareness is dark, 'The Parchment Sand' comes with a more positive instrumentation - a gorgeous song!
And, finally, my favourite: 'Failed to Connect to Heart (Endline)'. I don't know how many associations I had in my head while listening to this outstanding piece over and over again. And the best thing - and the most important - is that it does not get boring. It might remind of early Cure or Frozen Autumn, but, still, has its inimitability.
Of course, you can't end an album with such a bomb, so there is a puffer - 'I Was Wrong' - before you get up and press the play button again.

Get this album, it is worth it!

Tracklist:

01. Albatross
02. Swallowed Cold Insanity
03. Witch of Silence
04. Four Steps in Your Hole
05. Innocent Awareness
06. Regressive Self Abnegation
07. Admire a New Demise
08. Permutations
09. The Parchment Sand
10. Failed to Connect to Heart (Endline)
11. I Was Wrong
Author:
Translator: kantellis
Add date: 2012-09-17 / Music reviews


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