Palais Ideal – Negative Space (Album – Cold Transmission Music)
Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop, Dark-Wave.
Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.
Background/Info: The third full length by the duo John Edwards – Richard van Kruysdijk was released a few months ago. The work features twelve new cuts.
Content: Palais Ideal moves on composing a sound mixing 80s elements clearly evoking the Dark-Wave style mixed with a more personal touch. The songs are mainly driven by dark reverie. Some guitar parts might remind you of The Cure.
+ + + : My favorite passages are the hardest ones ”No Sign Of Danger” and “Anything For A Thrill” both are exposures of this ‘harder’ approach. I also enjoy listening to “Age Of Intransigence” which is a cool last track reminding me of The Cure. Last but not least I also have to say a word about the great, styled, artwork of the CD.
– – – : Palais Ideal seems to like composing dreamy songs. I like their dark approach but they never reach a true climax. It’s a pity there are no more ‘harder’ cuts which I’m sure reveals the band at its best.
Conclusion: I have some mixed feelings with this album because I think the duo has the potential to do better.
Best songs: ones ”No Sign Of Danger”, “Anything For A Thrill”, “Age Of Intransigence”.
Rate: 7.
Artist: www.palaisideal.net / www.facebook.com/palaisideal
Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic
About Palais Ideal
Palais Ideal is a duo from Eindhoven in the Netherlands, made up of John Edwards and Richard van Kruysdijk. Van Kruysdijk is also a member of Dead Lights and Phallus Dei. The pair describe their music as progressive post-punk.
“Negative Space”, the third full-length and the album reviewed here, was released on 5 November 2021 through Cold Transmission Music. Edwards and Van Kruysdijk wrote the record, which was recorded at Studio 37, POM and Poème Electronique in Eindhoven, produced by the duo with Pete Burns, mixed by Burns at The Shelter in Glasgow and mastered by Jason Corbett at Jacknife Sound in Vancouver. Van Kruysdijk also made the artwork.
The band’s Bandcamp discography lists “The Future Has Been Cancelled”, “No Signal”, “Context Collapse”, “The Programme”, “Pressure Points” and “The Art Of Crashing”, which appeared in June 2021 ahead of “Negative Space”. “Here And Now” followed in January 2026.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
