THE SHALLOW GRAVES
Smoke-Screen For Your Broken Dream
Rarely, there is a spiritual connection among an album cover, the music that it represents and the listener's perception. That is the special case with "Smoke-Screen For Your Broken Dream", the first full-length recording by the German duo The Shallow Graves. Immediately when the intro "Broken Dream" is launched off, one is caught by the sense of well-done classic Goth Rock. The song-writing manages to salute the past greats, without being completely captured by them. British influential names such as Rosetta Stone, Suspiria and, to a lesser extent, Nosferatu, could be the more easily discovered points of comparison. But even though this band sounds purposely derivative, the vocal abilities of Julian Shallow (ex-Velinas) and the flawless playing by guitarist Chris Moribund (ex-Madre Del Vizio, ex-Chassalla, Jessica's Ascension, Moribund Thirteen A. D.) have sufficiently distinctive character to open up by themselves new territories in traditional Goth Rock. Moreover, they succeed to combine these hallmarks with intelligent arrangements and dancefloor-oriented hooks, enhancing the songs but without affecting their gloomy appeal. Take, for example, "The Field Of Love" or "Summerrain", whose crisp electronics are cleverly integrated, leaving enough room for the mournful spiral of melodies to catch the listener. More varied in tempo, the inspiring "In The House Of Tomorrow" is undoubtedly one of the highlights. Its elegant, grief-stricken vocal delivery is emphasized by first-class, meandering guitar lines, forming a beautiful choral lament. Synths expand the song from behind, carrying an ominuous vibe with them. This fits in pretty well with "In My Hands", a ballad blown by somber keyboard tones and howling chords. The voices provide a deep sense of loss, echoing and arising from the structure like a prayer. Also soaked by the emotional storm is "Even My Breath Is Borrowed". The funeral-like atmosphere takes over the environment through riffs imbued by doom. Then acoustic sparkles and winding melodies join the string layers and, thereby, Julian's evoking visions of agony and sorrow are escalated. It's another crowning moment of this album and, inevitably, it brings up for me their compatriots Dreadful Shadows. However, the most of the tracks in this record are solid Goth Rock numbers, beating and addictive. Titles like "Times Are Changing", "All The Guilt", "Led By Lust" or "Heartthrobs and Sighs" are all firm candidates for scorching the guitar gothic dancefloors around the world. Not to speak of the bonus gems that have been included in the Special Edition: an exciting cover version of Fields of the Nephilim's underrated classic "The Sequel", "In The House Of Tomorrow (Ashley Dayour Extended Remix)", "Times Are Changing (Tim Chandler Remix)", "The Field Of Love (Jessica's Ascension Remix)", "Cold Night (mph Remix)" and The Shallow Graves' acclaimed anthem "Brickbats & Highheels", extracted from their first EP "Those Hollow Eyes" (released in 2006). So, as you can see, "Smoke-Screen For Your Broken Dream" doesn't miss a detail and is very worth listening, but there is more to this album, something not necessarily quantifiable, spreaded on every baritone, melody and hook that sets it apart from merely nostalgic throwback music. Be that as it may, this record will provide you a great opportunity to rediscover the essentials of Goth Rock.
Review by Billyphobia
- 01. Broken Dream
- 02. The Field Of Love
- 03. Times Are Changing
- 04. In My Hands
- 05. Summerrain
- 06. Cold Night
- 07. In The House Of Tomorrow
- 08. Even My Breath Is Borrowed
- 09. Led By Lust
- 10. All That Guilt
- 11. Heartthrobs & Sighs
- Special Edition Bonus Tracks
- 12. The Sequel (Fields Of The Nephilim)
- 13. In The House Of Tomorrow (Ashley Dayour Extended Remix)
- 14. Times Are Changing (Tim Chandler Remix)
- 15. The Field Of Love (Jessica's Ascension Remix)
- 16. Cold Night (mph Remix)
- 17. Brickbats & Highheels
THE SHALLOW GRAVES
EnglishSmoke-Screen For Your Broken Dream
No es lo habitual, pero a veces existe una conexión 'espiritual' entre la portada de un disco, la música que representa y la percepción del oyente. Este es el caso especial de "Smoke-Screen For Your Broken Dream", el primer álbum de larga duración del dúo alemán The Shallow Graves. Nada más comenzar la intro, "Broken dream", uno tiene la certeza de que está escuchando buen Rock Gótico, y de que éste cumple con la normativa británica clásica. De hecho parece un tributo a las bandas anglosajonas que consolidaron este estilo entre finales de los 80 y principios de los 90. Formaciones influyentes como Rosetta Stone, Suspiria o, en menor medida, Nosferatu, son puntos de comparación obligatorios en una primera aproximación a la música de The Shallow Graves. Pero aunque su sonido sea intencionadamente derivado, las habilidades vocales de su cantante y fundador Julian Shallow (ex-Velinas) y el talento de su cómplice, el conocido guitarrista y compositor Chris Moribund (ex-Madre Del Vizio, ex-Chassalla, Jessica's Ascension, Moribund Thirteen A. D.), tienen carácter y personalidad suficientes como para abrir rutas nuevas en el terreno del Rock Gótico tradicional. Además, se las arreglan para combinar estos elementos con arreglos inteligentes y ganchos electrónicos, orientados a palestras de baile pero sin menoscabo de su atractivo oscuro. Sirvan de ejemplo "The Field Of Love" o "Summerrain", con crepitar de beats bien integrado y dejando el espacio suficiente para que la espiral melódica fluya y la melancolía trascienda. Más variada en el tempo, la inspiradora "In The House Of Tomorrow" es una de las canciones que destacan en este disco. El desarrollo vocal es elegante, afectado por el desconsuelo y enfatizado por las líneas de guitarra sinuosas, que se funden en un lamento coral bello conforme avanzan los segundos. Los sintetizadores expanden la canción desde atrás, rociándola con vapor frío y ruido ominoso. "In My Hands" se proyecta sobre el mismo decorado siniestro de fondo. Penumbra en los teclados y melancolía en las cuerdas, con un profundo sentimento de pérdida en las voces, retumbando en ecos y elevándose como una plegaria. La tormenta emocional continúa con "Even My Breath Is Borrowed", de atmósfera fúnebre, con riffs clásicos de Doom, destellos acústicos y acordes zigzagueando al llanto y escalando la interpretación afligida de Julian. Aunque si algo caracteriza a este repertorio, es la profusión de himnos sólidos de Rock Gótico, pulsantes y adictivos. Por citar algunos, "Times Are Changing", "All the Guilt", "Led By Lust" o "Heartthrobs and Sighs" son firmes candidatos a la crema de club. Por no hablar de los extras incluídos la Edición Especial del disco: una estimulante versión de "The Sequel" de The Fields Of The Nephilim, "In The House Of Tomorrow (Ashley Dayour Extended Remix)", "Times Are Changing (Tim Chandler Remix)", "The Field Of Love (Jessica's Ascension Remix)", "Cold Night (mph Remix)" y el aclamado himno de The Shallow Graves, "Brickbats & Highheels", extraído de su EP debut "Those Hollow Eyes" (publicado en 2006). Como puedes leer, a este "Smoke-Screen For Your Broken Dream" no le falta detalle y es de escucha apetecible. Pero hay algo más en este disco, algo no cuantificable necesariamente, esparcido en cada barítono, melodía y ritmo, que lo aleja de las producciones ventajistas, abonadas al torrente nostálgico. Sea como fuere, si quieres redescubrir la esencia del Rock Gótico clásico este álbum te brinda una oportunidad única.
Reseña por Billyphobia
- 01. Broken Dream
- 02. The Field Of Love
- 03. Times Are Changing
- 04. In My Hands
- 05. Summerrain
- 06. Cold Night
- 07. In The House Of Tomorrow
- 08. Even My Breath Is Borrowed
- 09. Led By Lust
- 10. All That Guilt
- 11. Heartthrobs & Sighs
- Special Edition Bonus Tracks
- 12. The Sequel (Fields Of The Nephilim)
- 13. In The House Of Tomorrow (Ashley Dayour Extended Remix)
- 14. Times Are Changing (Tim Chandler Remix)
- 15. The Field Of Love (Jessica's Ascension Remix)
- 16. Cold Night (mph Remix)
- 17. Brickbats & Highheels