Scenius – Life Is A Thing (Album – MMXX Records)
Genre/Influences: Electro-Wave.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Second album by the British-French Scenius duo.
Content: Scenius remains inspired by a very personal approach in Electro/Wave-Pop. There definitely is a retro-touch running through their work which has been mixed with a more contemporary style. The songs are switching between evasive passages and a few, harder, and darker, tracks.
+ + + : I like the kind of sweet, melancholia, running through the songs. Sound-wise Scenius strives to accomplish a personal Electro-Pop sound mixing cool vintage sound treatments with a wafting sensation. My personal favorite cut is the somewhat harder “Chinese Room” which also is a well-crafted piece of music.
– – – : The album is missing a true climax; I guess just one single cut with a more explicit dance/club approach would make the difference.
Conclusion: Scenius stands for easy listening Electro/Wave-Pop music.
Best songs: “Chinese Room”, “La Même Nuit”, “Hot Dust”.
Rate: 7½.
Artist: www.scenius-band.com / www.facebook.com/sceniusband
Label: www.facebook.com/MMXXRECORDS
About Scenius
Scenius is a synth-pop and dark-wave duo formed in 2020 by Leeds, UK-based producer Steve Whitfield, known for his work with The Cure, The Mission and Yann Tiersen, and French singer Fabrice Nau, also active with Boutique Du Tao, Kyu and The Drift. The project draws on pre-punk and post-punk electro acts such as Kraftwerk, Brian Eno, New Order and Depeche Mode alongside contemporary influences including LCD Soundsystem and Boards of Canada, built around vintage synths and drum machines.
The duo released its debut album “Enough Fears” in 2020 and the live EP “Live in Angers” in 2022. Their second album, “Life Is A Thing”, followed on MMXX Records on 19 May 2023, preceded by the single “Chinese Room”. Scenius announced a third album, “13 Billion Dark Years”, for release on 24 October 2025.
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