Real – Avalon (Album – Nagelwork)
Genre/Influences: Minimal-Electronics, EBM, Body-Pop.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Real is a German solo-project set up in 2019 by Jens Nagel. He was previously involved in Hip-Hop, but discovered the magic of Underground Electro and Industrial music. Together with Real he set up his own label to unleash this debut album featuring nine songs.
Content: “Avalon” is a German sung album. The album takes off with a rather minimalistic Electro approach with some Dark-Pop and Techno elements on top. After a few average-like songs, the work is progressively getting harder and moving back to exiting songs. I also noticed a song featuring guitar.
+ + + : “Avalon” features several interesting cuts where the artist reveals an original approach in the writing. It’s a minimal styled Electro with some extra influences on top, but carried by a great sound production. “Goldene Ketten” is for sure the best cut from the album; it’s minimal, but also featuring technoid elements and very personal Electro-Pop influences. Another attention grabber is the title song, which has a transcendental effect. I’m also enjoying the work for its atmospheric side and some vintage sound treatments.
– – – : There are a few songs in the midst of the album where Real sounds like having lost its creative side.
Conclusion: Real is an interesting newcomer revealing a great approach in sound and style so in the end I can speak about a promising debut.
Best songs: “Goldene Ketten”, “Avalon”, “Mehr Sehn”, “Sag Nichts”.
Rate: (7).
Artist & Label: www.real-musik.de / www.facebook.com/REAL-Musik-107993337635015
About Real
Real is a German solo-project of Jens Nagel, based in Wolfenbuttel, Germany, set up in 2019 after Nagel moved from Hip-Hop into Underground Electro and Industrial music. He launched the Real-Musik label alongside the project.
“Avalon” is Real’s debut album, released on Real-Musik in 2020. The German-sung record moves between EBM (“Goldene Ketten”), minimal electro (“Balance”) and a guitar-grunge combination (“Sag nichts”).
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