AlterRed - DollsTown
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Before I got this album to review, I have to admit that I never heard of AlterRed to this time. With their latest release 'DollsTown' I realized soon that I had a real gem in my hands. The album has influences from cabaret, future pop and darkwave, while a synthpop style constructs the basic part of the music by AlterRed.
The title track "DollsTown" is introduced with a nice piano-melody in the vein of The Dresden Dolls or Vermillion Lies, illustrating the influences from cabaret noir. Later synth effects are adding some atmosphere.
"And We Disappear" has more of a darkwave costume and is almost Xymoxish from the instrumentation. The vocals go an amazing path through diminished tunes, but stumble a little bit on the refrain. The track is reminiscent of Torul's newer works, like "Try".
When I mentioned Xymox before, their influence on AlterRed is even more audible in the next piece "Rebuild Rewire", but also from future pop by e.g. VNV Nation. Machine sounds round the whole thing up, but somehow I couldn't get too much into the refrain, though.
"Safe" is carried by steamy-sounding effects and could be played on every Steampunk-themed party. It is inviting the listener for a dance.
One of the tracks on 'DollsTown', which definitely caught my attention, is "Eve". It is a slower song and seems, apart from the other tracks, to be like a break. Epic, slow, atmospheric.
A little bit harsh is the change to the next piece "In Recovery". But soon the listener is "back on track" for more up-tempo tunes.
The most outstanding track on 'DollsTown' is definitely "And the Machine". The recurrent main theme is simply amazing. "And the Machine" has a clear hit-potential. Perhaps you could call it a darkwave-clubhit.
The machine theme is taken further upon the next song "A Different Face". This time the piano is back, supporting the theatrical feeling this piece procures. Here everything fits (also the refrain).
With "Torn & Tied" comes a track with hard bass beats, until the album is going to an end with the ballad "As She Circles the Drain".
DollsTown is worth a listen, it brings interesting combinations of different genres, most notably darkwave and cabaret noir. Still, the band could, in my opinion, work on their refrains, which not always seem to be the best fit.
Tracklist:
01. Dollstown
02. And We Disappear
03. Rebuild Rewire
04. Safe
05. Eve
06. In Recovery
07. And The Machine
08. A Different Face
09. Torn & Tied
10. As She Circles The Drain
Other articles:
The title track "DollsTown" is introduced with a nice piano-melody in the vein of The Dresden Dolls or Vermillion Lies, illustrating the influences from cabaret noir. Later synth effects are adding some atmosphere.
"And We Disappear" has more of a darkwave costume and is almost Xymoxish from the instrumentation. The vocals go an amazing path through diminished tunes, but stumble a little bit on the refrain. The track is reminiscent of Torul's newer works, like "Try".
When I mentioned Xymox before, their influence on AlterRed is even more audible in the next piece "Rebuild Rewire", but also from future pop by e.g. VNV Nation. Machine sounds round the whole thing up, but somehow I couldn't get too much into the refrain, though.
"Safe" is carried by steamy-sounding effects and could be played on every Steampunk-themed party. It is inviting the listener for a dance.
One of the tracks on 'DollsTown', which definitely caught my attention, is "Eve". It is a slower song and seems, apart from the other tracks, to be like a break. Epic, slow, atmospheric.
A little bit harsh is the change to the next piece "In Recovery". But soon the listener is "back on track" for more up-tempo tunes.
The most outstanding track on 'DollsTown' is definitely "And the Machine". The recurrent main theme is simply amazing. "And the Machine" has a clear hit-potential. Perhaps you could call it a darkwave-clubhit.
The machine theme is taken further upon the next song "A Different Face". This time the piano is back, supporting the theatrical feeling this piece procures. Here everything fits (also the refrain).
With "Torn & Tied" comes a track with hard bass beats, until the album is going to an end with the ballad "As She Circles the Drain".
DollsTown is worth a listen, it brings interesting combinations of different genres, most notably darkwave and cabaret noir. Still, the band could, in my opinion, work on their refrains, which not always seem to be the best fit.
Tracklist:
01. Dollstown
02. And We Disappear
03. Rebuild Rewire
04. Safe
05. Eve
06. In Recovery
07. And The Machine
08. A Different Face
09. Torn & Tied
10. As She Circles The Drain
Other articles:
- AlterRed - Mind-Forged Manacles - 2012-02-06 (Music reviews)
