Rosi – Grey City Life (CD Album – Cold Transmission Music)
Genre/Influences: Cold-wave, gothic.
Background/Info: Sven Rosenkötter and Mirco Rappsilber set up Rosi in 2014. A first album “Grey City Life” was self-released on vinyl back in 2016 and followed by another self-released full length “Hope” in 2018. In the meantime they signed a deal with Cold Transmission Music, which now has re-released the debut album as CD format featuring extra songs and remixes.
Content: This German formation perfectly matches with the sound of the Cold Transmission roster. Some of the tracks remind me a bit of Bauhaus. The tracks are driven by slow rhythms and supported by a spooky production with dominant atmospheres. The songs have been written by guitar and accomplished by electronic treatments. The songs have been sung in English, but you’ll also find a track sing in German.
Next to the 11 original songs from the album the CD brings you 6 bonus cuts featuring 4 remixes and 2 previously unreleased tracks.
+ + + : The power is hiding in the overwhelming dark, atmospheric part of the work. “Grey City Life” is more an album to listen to instead of a danceable production. It’s dark, depressed and even disturbing. These feelings are perfectly accentuated in one of the choruses ‘everybody has to die’ (taken from “Jeder”). Among the remixes I heard a great job done by Kiss Of The Whip and Run. The remix by Run has something old-school like and reminds me a bit of Fad Gadget. I also have to mention the previously unreleased song “Körper” feat. Joana, which is different from the rest of the album, but a real beautiful cut.
– – – : Rosi clearly has a personal approach, which is not always the most accessible one. It’s original, but not the stereotypical production in the genre… although I think that’s a rather positive aspect.
Conclusion: “Grey City Life” is an album you need to hear a few times before really getting into it, but there’s a personal sound identity making this band different from the rest.
Best songs: “Jeder”, “Schlaf feat. Joana & Tkalec”, “Körper feat. Joanna”, “Film”, “Verloren – Kiss Of The Whip Remix”.
Rate: (7½).
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. And unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can. 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.
