Alex Braun – ReCover (Album – ScentAir Records)
Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: After having released the EP’s “Eiskalt” (2018) and “Chasing Cars” (2019) Alex Braun (!Distain singer) has released all the songs from these EP’s on the debut album “ReCover”. This work has been released in Russia by ScentAir and features a few extra songs. The title of the album is an indication of the concept of cover songs.
Content: The work features a varied selection of cover songs, which have been transposed into the Electro-Pop approach of Alex Braun. From Kim Wilde to Lou Reed to Depeche Mode to Snow Patrol to Black ao, the songs are easily recognizable. The opening track “Male Stripper” is a cover from Man 2 Man and features vocals by Madil Hardis (who already did some vocals for Nature Of Wires and Ashbury Heights). The last songs are remixes by Rob Dust (who did 2 remixes), Parralox and Elmodic. There’s also a cover of “Hallelujah” featuring female vocals by Alex’s daughter.
+ + + : Alex Braun seems to be fond of covering songs he likes. The work confirms the great vocal skills of Braun. It’s not an easy thing adapting famous songs like “Wonderful Life”, “Perfect Day”, “Cambodia” or yet “Somebody”, but he did it with natural grace. “Kim Wilde’s “Cambodia” remains my favorite one, which is the perfect song for Electro-Pop -the original version being pretty Pop as well. But my favorite song is the ‘new’ one; the opening piece featuring Madil Haris is driven by an excellent poppy tune and is one of the most danceable cuts. When it comes to composing ‘club music’ you better ask Rob Dust to remix some songs. He did a great job remixing “Cambodia” and “Chasing Cars”.
– – – : It remains a challenge to cover famous songs and artists. Alex Braun accomplished an honest work, but I’m missing some extra danceable vibes in most of the songs.
Conclusion: This work is mainly meant for the fans of the !Distain singer although I’m sure others will be surprised to discover a few cover versions.
Best songs: “Male stripper”, “Cambodia”, “Wonderful Life”, “Perfect Day” + “Cambodia – Rob Dust Remix”, “Chasing Cars – Rob Dust remix”.
Rate: 7.
Listen to “reCOVER”:
Artist: www.facebook.com/alex.braun.313
Label: www.scent-air.com / www.facebook.com/ScentairRecords
About Alex Braun
Alex Braun sings in the German electro-pop band !Distain. He started issuing music under his own name through Echozone, which released the CD EP “Eiskalt”, reviewed on Side-Line in October 2018, and the EP “Chasing Cars”, reviewed in January 2020.
Discogs catalogues “ReCover” as ScentAir Records SA164, a limited CD released in Russia on 2 July 2021, and lists an identical sixteen-track digital edition issued by Echozone on 23 July 2021. The running order opens with the Man 2 Man cover “Male Stripper” and ends with four remixes.
Braun’s second solo album, “Dreamland”, appeared on Infacted on 1 March 2024. It drops the cover concept for his own compositions and was produced with Gerrit Thomas of Eisfabrik and Funker Vogt.
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