Sometimes life is asking too much from you and then you miss certain things. One of the things I had to miss is the release of Llumen’s new album earlier this year. But I corrected it by reviewing it now as my last published review of the year (however Lordi’s reviews will follow in 2022 but have already been written 3 months ago).
This is the short promo talk I collected from the record company (and I totally agree with what’s written):
Belgian act LLUMEN strikes back with a new album offering you intense and forceful future pop / dark elektro moments that should seduce all fans of acts in the likes of VNV NATION, ASSEMBLAGE 23, HAUJOBB, MESH and COVENANT. Steady beats, ominous pulsing bass, modern multi-layered electronics, emotional vocals, a future pop touch and old school EBM elements.
While we were all wondering where the great Belgian electro act LLUMEN was hiding the last few years, mastermind Pieter Coussement was actually going through a serious health crisis… Constantly struggling against the deep emotional turmoil of progressively recovering his health, the artist realised abruptly that life could be finite. It opened an introspective catharsis leading to him eventually rediscovering himself, growing new roots and finally being able to move forward again.
LLUMEN’s new album “Polygon Heart” reflects that very personal post-surgery rebirth, meticulously pinpointing past events and finding a path out of the dark, hoping to heal his broken heart once more. With a blurred line between autobiographical and fictional, the new songs feel very close to his heart but also touch on topics that are universal and we can easily relate to.
Ok, up now to the music and we start with All Things Broken. The beginning reminds me a bit of Diorama in a more recent phase. The vocals have been run trough a vocoder or at least some kind of machine. The effect is not bad whilst it doesn’t spoil the feeling behind the song. You can feel something deep inside is hurting, just as the struggle that comes with it. Lifeline starts with a very dark feeling and pounding beats, whilst you hear a women talking about a medical situation. Pieter is never going to be the new David Bowie (vocal wise), but I can hear he stepped up a bit and sounds less insecure and that is a great step forwards. The personal misery and getting out of it clearly helped him coming back in a better and stronger way! I can already say that it feels like Llumen is ready to become one of the best ones in Belgium (within this genre). The Dark In Her Eyes has already been launched with the EP. This is what I wrote about it a few days ago:
“The Dark In Her Eyes” feels like an instant hit you will sing along to in no time (but sadly haven’t heard it on the radio). Its catchy upbeat danceable arrangement gets perfectly wrapped in very expressive melancholic vocals and sinister dark melodies. The song is made of of steady beats, pulsing bass, modern electronics, emotional vocals, a future pop touch and old school EBM elements.”
And oh yes: The song is pretty long: 7.40, but you wont notice it once you are completely into the right vibe.
Polygon Heart is a more introvert song and talking about the feeling of pain and coming home in a status quo. Being uncertain about something and coping with it must be hard. It’s a slow grower, so give it some time and listen to it over and over. After a while the beats and the floating touch will take over and you will dive into a real story and gras for hope and light. This is off course my own interpretation.
Did I Let You Go has music that sounds very positive and light, whilst the lyrics sound a bit harder. Like My Pain is an excellent dancefloor filler with killer beats and great vocals. I feel like this one really needs a clip or had to be a single. The song has also a very melancholic touch (just the way I adore it). My Heart Inside Your Hands starts slowly with somehow a Wagnerian touch, explodes a bit after a while and makes the tempo go up and the sound comes in louder and louder whilst the emotions take over to reign. I like the lyrics! The Path That Leads Me Home is a love song, build up and lifted by the beats, a great synth and good vocals. Desert Land could have been a VNV Nationouttake and shows that this is a new gem and ready to conquer the dancefloors! The deep melancholic touch is just perfect and matches the vocals like a handmade glove! The last is a more introvert but very emotional song called: The Scars I Made. I like the piano (synth) and the way the vocals build up the emotional tension.
I’m glad I finished this one in 2021! It’s an album with 2 faces: a dark/depressing and one of hope and love! A bit like 2021! Stay safe and healthy!
