CD Review: Project Pitchfork - Quantum Mechanics

Written by Hemi Malkki Tuesday, 30 August 2011 16:17

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Artist: Project Pitchfork
Title: Quantum Mechanics
Genre: Darkwave
Release Date: 12th August 2011
Label: Trisol

Album Review

After over two decades, almost twenty full-length albums and numerous other releases, PROJECT PITCHFORK hardly needs an introduction. Following a few years break after 'Kaskade' (2005), the band has been churning out new albums yearly. 'Quantum Mechanics' is their second album on Trisol after 'Continuum Ride', released just a little over a year ago. Opening track 'Freeze In Silence' feels like coming home: it just sounds so very... PROJECT PITCHFORK with its relentlessly rolling beats and zippy synth lines. 'Lament' is an interesting one, combining bittersweet resignation with soothing chords. 'Run for Cover' is one of the more energetic tracks on the album - with its catchy chorus, it might well be the one you would hear on the dance floor. A prime example of the more tranquil tracks on the album is the title song, which carries the listener to the East, bringing in mind an unexpected association with the early Eighties era Kitarō.

'Quantum Mechanics’ is cast with characters that tend to be either ridden with despair ('Lament', 'We Will Descend') or mischievous, if not downright maleficent: 'Splice' speaks with a voice of an evil scientist, while the exultant protagonist of 'Radical Business' could be a venal leader or businessman; both too well-known characters of our time. On 'Quantum Mechanics', the wicked ones appear to have upper hand. Lyrics were always an essential part of PROJECT PITCHFORK's music, and on this album, Spilles makes a couple of side-trips to the fairytale land, drawing from folklore and traditional folk song lyric formats ('Queen of Space and Time'). Another reoccurring theme is that of criticism towards modern, corrupt society.

'Quantum Mechanics' does not sound anything like 2011. This is not to say the album would necessarily sound dated, either - PROJECT PITCHFORK just were never the ones to follow trends and their distinguishable trademark sound has not changed much during the years. Production has been improved since their previous album, somewhat muddy 'Continuum Ride'. What has not been changed is the vocals, which are processed heavy-handedly all over. Personally, I miss the variation and dynamics in the vocals heard on their previous albums such as 'Dream, Tiresias!', but obviously it is a matter of taste. It is surprisingly difficult to pick up favourites from 'Quantum Mechanics': there is no flops but no instant highlights either. The final track of the album, inquisitive 'You Rest In My Heart' captures well the spirit of 'Quantum Mechanics': It is simultaneously plaintive and consoling; bleak, but not acquiescent


Tracklist

01. Freeze In Silence - 5:35
02. Lament - 7:36
03. Run For Cover - 6:20
04. Radical Business - 6:25
05. Mute Spectators - 5:22
06. Quantum Mechanics - 5:37
07. The Queen Of Time And Space - 4:47
08. Splice - 5:01
09. We Will Descend - 5:59
10. You Rest In My Heart - 6:55


Line-up

Peter Spilles: vocals, composition
Dirk Scheuber: synths
Jürgen Jansen: synths


Website

http://www.project-pitchfork.eu/ / http://www.myspace.com/projectpitchfork


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 8
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 8 / 10