Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop, Body-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: “Transformation” is X Marks The Pedwalk tenth full length album and for sure a milestone in Sevren Ni-Arb career. Five albums were released before the band’s break while “Transformation” is the fifth new opus since the band’s come back in 2009/2010. “Transformation” has been introduced as an album dealing about ‘moments of personal change’.

Content: The previous album “Secrets” already revealed an evolution in vocals, Estefania’s vocal parts becoming more important. She this time becomes the lead singer of the band although Sevren Ni-Arb is still singing on a few cuts. Sound-wise the duo moves on exploring Electro-Pop paths reinforced with EBM bass lines on a few songs. The work is diversified, switching from danceable cuts to more evasive pieces. One of the potential hits “Voodoo Love” has a strong retro-feeling reminding me to New Order. There’re more 80s influences emerging here and now.

+ + + : “Secrets” was already a well-crafted and accomplished work, but I think that “Transformation” moves a step further. Since the ‘second’ life of the band this is for sure the album with the most potential hits featured. I already mentioned “Voodoo Love”, but there’s also “Transformind” carried by a solid EBM inspired bass line. And I also have to evoke “Walk Away” mixing elements of Pop together with trance.  All these songs are driven by a strong chorus and a good-old 80s touched transformed into a modern approach.

– – – : The album also features a few softer cuts, which can’t convince me a similar way. “Waiting” is one of these cuts.

Conclusion: When you compare both periods of X Marks The Pedwalk you definitely will have to agree it all sounds like listening to different bands. “Transformation” is a must have if you like the Electro-Pop style of the second period.

Best songs: “Voodoo Love”, “Transformind”, “Walk Away”, “Talking”, “Let Me Go”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.x-mtp.com / www.facebook.com/xmarksthepedwalk

Label: www.meshwork-music.com / www.facebook.com/meshwork.music