Je T’Aime – Passive (Album – Manic Depression Records / Icy Cold Records)
Genre/Influences: Dark-Wave, Post-Punk.
Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.
Background/Info: Parisian (France) formation Je T’Aime strikes back with their second studio album. They in the meantime also released a live album “Live At Gibus”.
Content: The sound formula and influences featured on “Passive” are totally comparable to the self-titled debut album. This is pure Dark-Wave music carried with typical 80s guitar play and accomplished with electronic arrangements. The influence and especially the way of singing comes closer to The Cure -while the debut album was more reminding me of The Smiths.
+ + + : Je T’Aime avoids any element of innovation but has seriously improved the global production process. The guitar parts and vocals are definitely The Cure-like. But I like the passion of the vocals which together with the guitar creates a true emotional feeling. The electro arrangements have something refined and even elevating. There are several cool songs but I especially recommend “Dirty Tricks” and “Unleashed”.
– – – : I regret the album is only featuring 10 songs but it also reminds me of the 80s album. The song “On The Phone” sounds a bit weird, revealing a more Ska-driven guitar playing.
Conclusion: Je T’Aime has accomplished a great, mature and passionate album. When listening to this album I can only but recognize there’s still great Cold-Wave music today!
Best songs: “Dirty Tricks”, “Unleashed”, “Give Me More Kohl”, “Another Day In Hell”, “Lonely Days”.
Rate: 8½.
Artist: www.jetaime-musique.com / www.facebook.com/jetaimethemusic
Labels: www.manicdepressionrecords.com / www.facebook.com/manicdepressionrecords / www.facebook.com/icycoldrecords
“Passive” was released on 14 February 2022 through Manic Depression Records and Icy Cold Records, on vinyl, CD and digitally. The ten tracks are “Another Day In Hell”, “Dirty Tricks”, “Lonely Days”, “Unleashed”, “Stupid Songs (feat. Ophelia)”, “Cold”, “Blood on Fire”, “Give Me More Kohl”, “On The Phone” and “Marble Heroes”.
The band produced the album and wrote and performed all songs: dBoy on programming, synths, bass, guitar and vocals, Tall Bastard on bass and guitar, and Crazy Z. on programming, synths, bass and guitar. Crazy Z. mixed and mastered the record at Studio Zoé H. Andy Julia and Adrien Chapuis handled design and art direction, with photography by Andy Julia.
Videos were released for “Another Day In Hell”, “Give Me More Kohl” and “Stupid Songs”. Side-Line carried the video for ‘Dirty Tricks’ in May 2022 and for ‘Blood on fire’ in September 2022.
Listen to “Passive”:
About Je T’Aime
Je T’Aime is a Parisian trio working in dark wave, cold wave and post-punk. The line-up is dBoy, Tall Bastard and Crazy Z. Side-Line reviewed the self-titled debut album, released on Manic Depression Records, in 2019.
“Passive” is the second studio album and the first to appear jointly on Manic Depression Records and Icy Cold Records. Both labels also handled the follow-ups. The band explained its name and its working method in the Click Interview with Je T’Aime in June 2022.
The third album, “Aggressive”, followed in January 2023, and “Useless Boy” in 2025. The trio also appears on the 7CD post-punk boxset ‘Resurgence’.
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