Artist:
De/Vision
Title:
Rockets & Swords
Label:
Popgefahr
Cat#:
tba
Release Date:
24th August 2012
Format:
limited CD edition, CD & digital
Tracklist:
01)
Boy Toy
02)
Superhuman
03)
Beauty Of Decay
04)
Brotherhood Of Man
05)
Stargazer
06)
Binary Soldier
07)
Bipolar
08)
Want To Believe
09)
Mystified
10)
Running All Night
11)
Kamikaze
12)
Bedbugs (A Modern Lullaby)
Tracks 11 and 12 are only available on the limited CD edition and as download.
Info:
For 25 years the Berlin-based band DE/VISION has been one of the most consistent and reliable representatives in the Electro-Pop genre. However, instead of resting on their hard-won acclaim, Steffen Keth and Thomas Adam embarked on a turbulent odyssey through the landscape of indie labels and major companies until they found home within their very own label, Popgefahr Records. Musically, DE/VISION has never settled into one specific style as they have happily explored the fringes of electronic music realms, which has been manifested by their uncountable albums, several “Best-of“ compilations and a number of remix albums of their previous piece, POPGEFAHR.
With their new album, ROCKETS & SWORDS, the duo is moving into familiar terrain. POPGEFAHR was DE/VISION’s first step in enhancing their acoustic world by adding much appreciated retro sounds. Pursuing this direction, they have found a refreshingly clean line that lends the album a distinctive feature and puts an emphasis on the band’s strong songwriting abilities. Band member Thomas explains the concept, “Things were meant to be simpler, clean-structured and lucid while not completely overloaded – yet still very powerful, rich in diversity and full of complexities.”
The songs on “ROCKETS & SWORDS“ captivate with their pointed beats and focused hook lines, providing each song with irresistible, addictive qualities. “Boy Toy“ comes across like a lost relict from the new-romantic 80’s era with its smooth background choir and furious retro gimmick, exuding cool Kraftwerk elegance while belching out disturbing industrial chunks. The heavenly infatuating “Superhuman“ is infused with brilliant sound escapades that carry on throughout the album like a colorful potpourri of electronic music history. Even heart-breaking ballads like “Beauty of Decay“ and “Want to Believe“ enhance their sound structure with surprising elements, blending in harmoniously while adding a tingling tension to the chemistry of the song. This especially comes to the fore of the impressive “Brotherhood of Man” which brings guitar riffs, a pulsating beat and Crystin Fawn’s voice to a kaleidoscopic symbiosis. The singer who was first discovered by successfully creating remixes for the album “Popgefahr – The Mix” with her band.
Throughout the realization process of this extremely mature and refreshing sound conglomerate, the producing-duo Schumann and Bach once again played a key role. For several years the quartet has cooperated as a fruitful collective. Thomas summarizes the formula to their successful collaboration by stating, “In addition to Schumann and Bach’s extensive technical know-how, the two possess an almost infinite musical creativity. They have an excellent feeling for what defines DE/VISION. They often give us certain impulses and come up with a new approach. When you have worked so closely for so many years, it is most important that you respect each other and get along on a personal level. A friendly and trusting relationship is essential.”
While the previous album Popgefahr dealt with the often negatively received Pop etiquette with a wink, Rockets & Swords strikes a rather socio-critical note. “A rocket is a modern weapon. The sword is an old, antique arm from a past era. New and old. Both serve the same purpose; they are the perfect tools to commit a murder. They accelerate the transition from life into death. And still, as strange as this might sound, the same weapons sometimes save lives and protect the innocent,” Thomas says as he describes the concept.
Thomas continues, “The album title is a symbol for the bipolarity of life in general – positive and negative, bright and dark, day and night, etc. One does not exist without the other. They are not the same and still they are one. This contrast is the main theme of the entire album and also in regards to the lyrics. For example, one song is titled “Bipolar,” which speaks for itself. Another song deals with finding the balance between extremes. This common thread can be found throughout the entire album. I also think that the image of rockets and swords reflect the present political situation worldwide. Look at the people in Syria who are fighting for their freedom and being slaughtered by the superior modern military. A lot of times they truly fight rockets with swords (or less).“
With Rockets & Swords, DE/VISION presents themselves as a downright grown-up electro band. Their wealth of experience, which has been gathered over decades, enables them to always concentrate on the bare essentials and write those emphatic pop gems wrapped in wonderfully multifaceted sound garments. Simple but effectively produced arrangements make the electro heart beat faster and fill the dance floors, conjuring one’s very own pictures onto the screen of the inner eye. This really is impressive pop cinema!
Listen:
“Running All Night”
“Mystified”
“Kamikaze”
“Want To Believe”
“Bedbugs”
“Bipolar”
“Stargazer”
“Brotherhood Of Man (Unmastered Version)”
“Beauty Of Decay (Unmastered Version)”
“Superhuman (Rough Mix)”
Video:
“Brotherhood Of Man”
Free Downloads:
“Brotherhood Of Man (Radio Edit)”
@depechemode.de
“Bipolar (Intuition’s Alive Remix)”
@depechemode.de
Buy:
PopOnaut (CD, limited edition)
PopOnaut (CD, standard edition)
Amazon GER (CD, limited edition)
Amazon GER (CD, standard edition)
Amazon GER (digital)
Amazon UK (CD, limited edition)
Amazon UK (CD, standard edition)
Amazon UK (digital)
MusicNonStop (CD, limited edition)
MusicNonStop (CD, standard edition)
MusicLoad (digital)
Metropolis (CD, US edition)
Metropolis (digital)
InfraRot (CD, limited edition)
InfraRot (CD, standard edition)
WOM (CD, limited edition)
WOM (CD, standard edition)
7Digital (digital)
iTunes (digital)
MediaMarkt (digital)
Saturn (digital)
Dussmann (CD, limited edition)
Dussmann (CD, standard edition)
more soon
I am really enjoyed to listen these songs, thanks for share information here..