Arctic Sunrise – Across The Ice (CD Album – Echozone)
Genre/Influences: Electro-pop.
Background/Info: It took three years for the German duo Torsten Verlinden (vocals) – Steve Baltes (electronics) to achieve their third full length album. “Across The Ice” was preceded by the singles “Stars” and “Surrender.”
Content: Arctic Sunrise is a band I kept an eye on. Their previous albums revealed a mature writing and an electro-pop sound appealing for fans of De/Vision. The new opus doesn’t sound that different, although the songs are more into a kind of dreamy melancholia. It feels a bit like music filled with dreams and emotions. Some of the songs are carried with solid bass lines. I also noticed a few parts by guest guitarist Oliver Franken. The most surprising cut is the cover version of “Running Up That Hill” originally written by Kate Bush.
+ + + : Arctic Sunrise confirms their talent to compose achieved electro-pop music. The best cuts from the album again appeal for fans of De/Vision; the originality is far to find, but the accomplishment is remarkable. Torsten Verlinden also confirms to be a great singer.
– – – : Speaking for myself I prefer previous albums. The album is sometimes a bit too dreamy-like and even if the album got positive reactions in the band’s homeland, I expected a bit more from this duo.
Conclusion: Arctic Sunrise are no longer getting me by surprise; the songs are still well-crafted, but the magic is a bit gone.
Best songs: “Stars (Album Version)”, “Running Up That Hill”, “The Game”.
Rate: (7).
Since you’re here …
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading Side-Line Magazine than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can - and we refuse to add annoying advertising. So you can see why we need to ask for your help.
Side-Line’s independent journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we want to push the artists we like and who are equally fighting to survive.
If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as 5 US$, you can support Side-Line Magazine – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.
The donations are safely powered by Paypal.
