Undertheskin – Negative (CD Album – Alchera Visions)
Alice Tambourine Lover – Down Below
Genre/Influences: Cold-wave, dark-rock, gothic.
Background/Info: Four years after the self-titled debut album Polish musician Mariusz Łuniewski is back again unleashing a new opus featuring seven songs. Two titles were previously released as single.
Content: “Negative” is an album that brings us back to the darkest hours of 80s cold-wave and related music genres. The darkness is mainly emerging from the low bass lines and typical guitar playing. All the songs have been achieved with electronic arrangements. The vocals are totally matching with the obscure spirit of the music.
+ + + : “Negative” only features 7 songs, but there’s not one single cut to throw away. This work is absolutely amazing. It’s not only for the retro-style reminding me of the 80s, but the global songwriting sounds right. From the low, vibrating bass lines to the guitar play and the judicious electronic arrangements this work fascinates from start till the end. The songs have been progressively built up, sometimes with a few little extra elements such as a psychedelic touch emerging at “Poison”, a little Cure-sensation at “Drown” and a carrying chorus during “Nothere”. I also enjoyed Mariusz’ deep timbre of voice, which is totally appropriate for this kind of music.
– – – : If I’ve just one little regret it’s probably that the (mini)-album only counts 7 songs!
Conclusion: If you don’t know yet Undertheskin, “Negative” will really give you a shock. It’s without a shadow of a doubt one of the best and most accomplished releases I’ve heard in the genre during the past months. And it will be for sure one of my favorite works from 2019!
Best songs: “Wave”, “Borderline”, “Burn”, “Nothere”, “Done”, “Poison”, “Drown”.
Rate: (9½).
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