Antipole – Radial Glare (Album – Young And Cold Records)
Genre/Influences: Gothic, cold-wave.
Format: Digital, CD, vinyl.
Background/Info: “Radial Glare” is the second album by project Antipole. I discovered the band driven by Karl Morten Dahl through the “Northern Flux”-album released in 2017 by Unknown Pleasures Records. Dahl invited guest singers Paris Alexander, Eirene and Marc Lewis.
Content: There for sure common points with the previous work. Antipole’s music remains inspired by the 80s cold-wave movement, which is mainly emerging from the deep, low vibrations of the bass lines and the guitar playing. The Cure is for sure a source of inspiration, but I should say Antipole sounds a bit darker. There’s an interesting diversity through the different singers.
+ + + : If you’re into 80s nostalgia and you especially like dark music, this album will fulfill your expectations. There’s an interesting move forward compared to the previous work. The guitar playing is for sure one of the album’s main strengths, but the electronic arrangements also inject a kind of evasive melancholia. I mainly recommend the songs “Memorial Waves” and “Le Moment”; the production of the vocals on both songs has something magical and also sensual at “Le Moment”. I also have to say a word about the great artwork.
– – – : The main strength of a work can be also its main point to improve; I would not say that Antipole has to improve the guitar playing, but it’s just a tiny bit too repetitive;
Conclusion: This is an interesting new work by Antipole, which has improved some little details from the production.
Best songs: “Le Moment”, “Memorial Waves”, “July Supine”.
Rate: (7½).
Artist: www.facebook.com/antipoleband
Label: www.youndandcold.de / www.facebook.com/youngandcoldrecords
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