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"If "Presets" is much more pop and FM than "Posthumous Silence", it remains a high quality album."
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4/5
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Sylvan had warned us... Two albums were to be released a year apart and if the first one, "Posthumous Silence", which turned out to be a total success, was supposed to follow the progressive tracks of their previous productions, the second one was to explore a more FM style...
Sylvan hasn't fooled us about the general idea of "Presets"... But the prejudices on the pop side should not make us forget that the band is talented and that their first opuses were not exempt from these more commercial aspects.
With compositions much shorter and straight forward than on "Posthumous silence", it is certain that the first contact in its entirety can destabilize. The immersion is not total and it can be difficult at first glance to adhere to a less grandiloquent and more "simplistic" content.
Yet it would be a pity to remain on this first impression. Because the Sylvan's Touch is still there. The vocals, still as worked and expressive, continue to work wonders as well as the melodic work giving even more catchy songs than before. And if the first bars of most of the tracks seem to be obvious and without real flavour, the different developments (refrains, breaks) irremediably lead the listener to reconsider his judgement on the majority of the tracks and in the end to reconsider his first feelings.
It is however necessary, and in all objectivity, to recognize that on the length a certain weakening is felt, due to a sequence of titles (8 to 11) below what Sylvan is used to propose us. This flaw is fortunately minimized thanks to the last track which brings a renewed interest and should get everyone to agree with its twelve minutes of progressive rock mixing softness and nervousness, with its changes of shots, rhythms and especially its absolutely memorable female chorus or its very atmospheric end.
Once again, I bow to the know-how and talent of this absolutely outstanding band. But I could only advise them to go back to their first loves in which they excel - a Posthumous Silence II, the return and perhaps a Posthumous Silence III, the revenge - or to avoid the rather penalizing hollow at the end of the album. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. One Step Beyond 02. Signed Away 03. For One Day 04. Former Life 05. On The Verge Of Tears 06. When The Leaves Fall Down 07. Words From Another Day 08. Cold Suns 09. Hypnotized 10. Heal 11. Transitory Times 12. Presets
LINEUP:
Kay Söhl: Guitares Marco Glühmann: Chant Matthias Harder: Batterie Sebastian Harnack: Basse Volker Söhl: Claviers
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READERS
3.4/5 (8 view(s))
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STAFF:
3.4/5 (9 view(s))
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"Osmium out now !" |
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