Sometimes life goes so fast and you miss things and sometimes you get a chance to catch up with things you missed. This is the story of the 7th album by the iconic Belgian dark electro/future pop act featuring collaborations with FRONT 242, POUPPEE FABRIKK, IMPLANT, NUMB, Mari Kattman, Noemi Aurora, BLACK NAIL CABARET, etc. A must for fans of VNV NATION, FRONT 242, COVENANT, and FADERHEAD. I'm happy I got it done and could review it track by track and not just write 10 lines about it like some do!
CD1:
It’s my first AIBOFORCEN review ever and I must say that the first track sounds very warm and very professional. It is not the first time I hear Mari Kattman sing and for as far as my memory is still good: I always loved her voice. Dead End (feat. Mari Kattman) sounds like a must have. Just listen to the song, feel the beats, follow the tempo … Synth pop mixed with Eurobeat!
Executions has nice vocals that reminding me a bit of the younger VNV Nation/Combichrist. But it is none other but Jan Dieckmann (Norderney) on vocals, The sound is very modern whilst the song has a good tempo.
Cycle Of Life is a song I have heard before and am acquainted with. The chorus is catchy, whilst the beats make you merge with them. The raw vocals (Jan Dieckmann) that sound like as if this is gonna be the last production sound really great, well done!
Abstract Sense gets lead vocals that start with a robot minded touch and fast go back to the natural sound. I hear a retro touch in the synthesizer sound (with a geste of Halloween). The vocals sound pretty sweet.
Between Noise & Silence (feat. Sorrow Stories): here’s it’s Tina Forlon who leans her vocal capacities and empowers the song. So far it’s the only song I don’t like as I somehow feel the vocals are not a match: I feel they are missing a punch.
Break The Black Ice sounds a bit better in the vocal range, whilst the music is really top: it sets the title so to speak with both feet into the reality. It’s also a great cover as the original belongs to Death In June. Vocals are sung by Patrice Synthea. Extra news: there was a first slower version that they recorded and which will be featured on the 7-cd box Resurgence out in the next months on Spleen+.
Attitude (Jan Dieckmann) starts with some breakbeats and a slice of trance. The sound is warm and well filled, whilst the tempo is a bit slow.
Heaven Knows (feat. Noemi Aurora) (Jan Dieckmann) is more into modern EBM whilst vocal wise has a clear Front 242 touch (in duet form). I always adore Noemi’s vocals and she does a great job here (once again). I hear a bit of a melancholic tone in the music, just as some Eurobeat.
I’m Talking To You (feat. Black Nail Cabaret) sounds modern, warm, has a bit of an eclectic feel (just the way I love it) and a melancholic touch.
River Of Dreams sounds exactly like the title: gently floating with some birds in the background. The song slowly build up. Sometimes I have a feeling the female vocals are not always in the right tune, but the sweater parts are really great. Patrice Synthea has the lead vocals.
Everything (Jan Dieckmann/Patrice Synthea) is a sweet duet with great music that works towards an ecstatic end.
New Eden is the closing track of the first album and has no vocals. The sound is warm, well filled and modern.
Well it’s the first time I review this band and it reminds me a bit of what Yves Schelpe does, but with a bit of a difference in the sound. The global sound is really good and very professional! I can hear the years of experience, the great gear used, good extra’s in the vocal range (however I have some doubts about one contributor, but that’s talking about my personal taste and you can’t have it all).
How It Starts (feat. Sorrow Stories) is a soft electronic ballad with sweet vocals. Halfway you hear a bit more electronics, taking you a bit out of the dreampop feel.
Attitude (remix by Patrick Codenys of Front 242) is a special one: adding some guitars, a more floating sound and some percussion.
We Fought The Demons In Our Mind (feat. Implant & Pouppée Fabrikk) will be for sure a fan favourite track: I adore the tempo, the beats and the vocals. It’s clearly a top track and I will add it to my personal playlist! This is a must have for DJ’s! This is the top track on this triple album!
Cycle Of Life (united) feat. Noemi Aurora Doesn’t sound at first that different from the previous version and yes: it’s good!
Revolt is a nice track, not as aggressive as the title pretends but still good! It’s the kind of song / lyrics I would rather expect from Implant (but that is a good thing). I adore the modern EBM approach.
Window To The Soul (feat. Numb) is a well fuelled modern EBM track with a warm sound, good beats and the perfect tempo! I also like the vocals!
Executions (life before death) takes us back again to the younger VNV Nation/Combichrist with modern blips and beats and an up-tempo track.
Is It So? has some VNV Nation slices in the synth department. The female vocals are really great. We hear Patrice Synthea and her husband Wrex who does some whispered vocals (the intro and during the break). I hear single potential in this one!
Katarsis (blue mix) gives the song more beats, a higher tempo and a warmer sound. Not bad for a new mix!
In My Arms (wave mix) (feat. Mari Kattman) sounds nice, a bit dream wave minded but with a higher tempo. It’s a nice extra!
Everything (acoustic) is the last track and will be a surprise to a lot of people as for once the electronics are turned off. You get a campfire feel. This stripped down version is magical! The vocals are superb! Jan Dieckmann does a great job here and I hope to hear his voice again (in the near future).
For the fast ones there was also an extra CD, but as the album was already launched in May, I guess I was too late
CD3: bonus 3-inch mini-CD "Eliza Effect" – exclusively available via Alfa Matrix store – 50 copies
01. Eliza effect (instr)
02. Pulsions (feat Sorrow Stories)
03. Subconscious Rising (instr)
04. Rose metal (instr)
Well it was fun doing it. Sometimes a bit hard as I’m not used to hear certain voices and noticing who sings where was sometimes a bit hard, but I’m happy I got some good help here. You must have noticed my personal favorite vocal parts and favorite tracks, but I’m sure some like other ones more then me as it’s all about a personal taste! Keep up the good work and looking forward to see it all growing!
