After a three year break, the cult, electro/synth-pop band XPQ-21, trusting in their strength, is back with a new album "Alive". The band consists of four members. On their CD, the musicians combine the sounds that are brutal, danceable, electronic, punk and melodious at the same time. 'Alive" is more rock than all the previous publishings and Jeyennes's ( the leader of the band) vocal is in the foreground. These who like Front 242, The Prodigy or Hocico are sure to like the album "Alive": the elements of electro, punk, industrial and ebm are mixed together in the songs "Dead Body" or "Jesus was Gay".However, XPQ-21 also present us with some more delicate sounds by combining electro with a melancholic background. The album starts with a rhythmical track "Rockin' Silver Knight", not particularly outstanding I must say. Next, we pass on to the track "Jesus was Gay & Sonne". Though it's the longest track on the CD, is not boring. It's exceptional as it combines the elements of several genres with the moving voice of the vocalist; even an unusual ending does not disrupt the whole. The next track, "Beautiful", has a great rhythm and interesting, a bit ironic, lyrics:
"…Buy your magazines
and learn your lifestyle…
… But you don't have to change your mind, 'cause you're Beautiful,
No matter what you say and what you do
Beautiful
Created for a plastic Word"
"Dead Body" is an aggressive track with a strongly marked vocals: it's really hard to miss the one during listening to the album. The next track of a similar tone - "Saviour" - has the aggressive, brutal and anti religious lyrics. While listening to "Everything" we slowly move towards the end of the album: the pace is getting slower to reach the calmest, final track "In Your Eyes" which I personally like best.
"there’s a hope in your eyes
we can live forever
together in you
in your eyes
i can see your smile"
The album "Alive" presents a diversified playing technique (also of the lyrics) which are anti religious, connected with fantasies of violence or the religious apocalypse. It's definitely one of the most absorbing albums I've recently listened to.
Tracklist:
1. Rockin’ Silver Knight
2. Jesus was Gay & Sonne
3. Beautiful
4. Dead Body
5. Saviour
6. In Your Eyes
7. Everything
Other articles:
- Immundus - You Will Never Get Out Of Here Alive - 2017-02-27 (Music reviews)
- Amduscia - Dead or Alive - 2005-10-09 (Music reviews)
