This Vale Of Tears – This Vale Of Tears (EP – Je M’En Fish)
Genre/Influences: Gothic, Post-Punk, Cold-Wave.
Format: Digital, Vinyl.
Background/Info: Belgian Goth formation This Vale Of Tears has been active since the 90s. Their debut release was a self-titled cassette featuring six tracks. Twenty eight years later Belgian label Je M’En Fish re-released this work on vinyl format while the songs have been remastered.
Content: The work reflects the sound of the 90s although with a wink to 80s Cold-Wave productions. But This Vale Of Tears had their own approach by composing a sound, which was also characterized by minimalism and a perfect offspring between Post-Punk and Cold-Wave music.
+ + + : This is a collector’s item, but still a way to get back to the debut of this formation. The remastered format is more than simply a bonus, but gives a second life to the songs. I like the heavier guitar playing running through “The Liar” and the typical 80s, mewing, guitar at “Down & Under”. The front cover of the vinyl format looks pretty cool with the art-nouveau like artwork.
– – – : This is pure nostalgia, but definitely not the best work ever released by this underrated Belgian formation.
Conclusion: Getting back to the source, this is where it all started for This Vale Of Tears. Belgian Gothic music.
Best songs: “Down & Under”, “The Liar”.
Rate: 7.
Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063716311259
Label: www.facebook.com/JemenfishBE
About This Vale Of Tears
This Vale Of Tears is a Goth Rock band from Belgium, with members Bart, Erik Duffeler, Johan Peeters and Tom Simons. The band’s self-titled debut cassette dates to 1994, followed by “Precession By Sunset” (1997), “Adam Nude” (1999) and “Exceed” (2002). This vinyl edition of the 1994 debut, remastered and reissued by Je M’En Fish twenty-eight years later, returns to the band’s earliest recordings.
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