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Ikon - Love, Hate and Sorrow


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Love, Hate and Sorrow is the sixth full-length album in the discography of Ikon, a band which was founded 19 years ago in Melbourne (on the debris of Death In The Dark) and which earned the name of "AC/DC of gothic rock" over the course of time. The record was released on Apollyon and is available in two editions - the basic one, featuring 12 songs, and the limited one (500 copies) enriched with an additional disc (Sessions de-mixed) with 10 pieces in acoustic version. The album was recorded by a proven team of musicians - Chris McCarter (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Dino Molinaro (bass guitar) and Anthony Cornish (guitars). The recording and mastering took approximately thrre years. This is by far undoubtedly the most polished-up release and, at the same time, the biggest musical affair, in terms of production, in the whole career of the trio. It can unmistakenly be heard in the very first sounds.

In the past, the work of Ikon was mainly based on clear and visible references to such acclaimed bands as Joy Division, New Order, Sisters of Mercy (the inspirational apogee with the band of Eldritch was excessed on Flowers of the Gathering) or Death in June. The last masterpiece of the Australians also includes a lot of musical references, however, they are not as apparent as they used to be. The record starts off with A Line On A Dark Day (previously known from an EP - League of Nations, which came out in 2007), highly saturated with electronica, spatial guitars and emotional vocals. This composition actually defines the current style of the band's music - it is modern, yet holds traditions in respect. The next track - Before The Dawn, is an energetic song maintained in the spirit of new wave, with an interesting way of playing of the rhythymic section. A bit of calm and melancholy is introduced by Torn Apart, a thing related to the popular (in a good sense of the word) sphere of the music world. In this case the keyboards dominante. Other trakcs, which are worth paying attention to, are Memoirs Of a Butterfly, Amongst the Runes (previously included on an EP - Amongst the Runes) and the title one - due to its extraordinary choruses and very approachable and catchy melodies. A ballad, Beautiful Sadness, also stands out in truly positive fashion.

Talking about sadness itself - a few words about the lyrical content of the record. In comparison the the earlier musical propositions from the band, there is nothing revolutionary to be found in this case. It would be undecent to expect McCarter to start singing some careless songs conveying optimistic messages with his low, piercing voice (slightly resembling the one of Iggy Pop). And a million tears are shed / But it won't bring back the dead - are the words one can hear in A Line On a Dark Day, which was inspired by, as the rumor has it, the dreadful events of 11th September 2001. Hence, the atmosphere on the release may be a bit gloomy and reflective. The lyrics concer mainly interpersonal relations: love, hate, friendship, lost chances and partings. It is rather easy to fall into banality, having such a range of subject at your disposal. Howere, the songs featuring Love, Hate and Sorrow defend themselves efficiently. They are emanating authetism, rather than boring sorrow.

The limited edition includes a bonus disc Sessions de-mixed, which contains acoustic versions of 10 tracks. Those are the songs from Love... as well as some taken from the previously released EPS - League of Nations and Amongst the Runes. The record shows an entirely different face of the band: more subdued and... poetic. But relax. By describing my impressions in such a way I did not mean strumming the guitar by a bunch of scouts at the campfire, nor entering the land of sonic gentleness. It is still the same Ikon. Yet this time without their whole electric back to rely on. The most important thing, even in such case, is that the group turnes out really natural and convincing.

Inspite of the fact that Love, Hate and Sorrow is constitutes a record, which is based in the 80's as far as its atmosphere is concerned, it by all means lack solutions which may appear as belonging to the past and not appropriate. The album's sound is very contemporary and proves the class of the Australians. The title of "AC/DC of gothic rock" has been defended!

Tracklisting:

CD 1
01. A Line on a Dark Day
02. Before the Dawn
03. Torn Apart
04. Memoirs of a Butterfly
05. Winter Mourning
06. Beautiful Sadness
07. Amongst the Runes
08. Love, Hate and Sorrow
09. Dead Man Tomorrow
10. All Depths of Despair
11. Point of No Return
12. Driftwood

CD 2 (Sessions de-mixed)
01. Hindsight
02. Amongst the Runes
03. Driftwood
04. Broken Windows
05. Calm Before the Storm
06. Memoirs of a Butterfly
07. Torn Apart
08. Beautiful Sadness
09. Stalag 13
10. Love, Hate and Sorro
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Translator: murd
Add date: 2011-02-10 / Music reviews


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