Title: The Fortress of Echoes
Artist: Substance of Shade
Genre: Electro /Dark Wave
Release Date: 19th September 2005
Label: Koi Records
Introduction
The project SUBSTANCE OF SHADE was founded in 2003 by the former members of the band NEOX: Chedlia Tebbi & Oliver Thom who is also involved in the synth pop band EQUATRONIC. The first and to this date only album is called ‘The Fortress of Echoes’ and was released in September 2005.
Members
Chedlia Tebbi - Song writing, Vocals
Oliver Thom - Arrangements, Production, Vocals
Website
http://www.substance-of-shade.de/
Track Review
01. Reality - 3:46
The track starts right away with its industrial sounding beats that seem to be a little bit out of tune with the processed melody on top. Then Chedlia’s voice appears and starts with the chant which is sometimes a little bit atonal, but I guess this is on purpose. As soon as she starts the chorus, wider synth layers appear. The song is very slow and the beat is halting.
02. Run - 3:42
Now it’s getting more danceable and a little bit faster. Starting out with a simple sequence soon more elements are added before the beat starts, this track later develops into a neat tune very suitable for the dance floors. The strophes are mostly dominated by Chedlia’s vocals and a spare synth melody while the chorus parts belong to the wider synth layers.
03. Teardrops - 4:50
A thunderstorm is comic up and soon it starts to rain. Through the rain the sound of drums reaches your ears. A wide string layer appears accompanied by a sound I’m not able to categorize. Chedlia’s voice really floats on the soundscapes this time. Except for the mentioned string layers, this song doesn’t sound electronic at all and the drums give a kind of ritual feeling to this dreamy and slow ballad.
04. Land of no return - 4:02
A song that spreads a very mystical feeling right from the start and that sounds very organic. Medieval sounding (synth) guitar chords and the reverberated chant let you switch over into the ‘Land of no return’. That is what you hear most of the time but now and then very wide synth layers and scattered gentle beats appear.
05. Dangerous Longing - 3:17
With a disturbing intro sequence this track starts and turns out to be more club orientated than the last one but I guess the main focus of this track is home listening as the beats have not enough punch for the dance floors, so just sit back, close your eyes and listen to a more straight track with some nice industrial elements and the this time very restrained melodic layers.
06. Numeric Fields - 3:02
That’s what I would call a neat club tune. The mid-tempo beats really have punch and wider synths are not audible here. In fact they are not existent so it’s all about the cold electronics that come up with a nice bunch of effects which adds to the cold atmosphere. The only thing that adds a little warmth to the song is Chedlia’s voice that’s pending between almost opera like and kind of aggressive and dirty.
07. Lovesong - 3:00
Wide soundscapes and low bell sounds instigate this song which is a very melancholic balladry track where the before mentioned soundscapes play the major part so you can float away on them like on water and only gentle yet laid-back beats break through the dense atmosphere.
08. Seven Seas - 4:52
A short intro sequence filled with various sounds leads us right to the very massive beat of ‘Seven Seas’. Some seconds later the hypnotic melody of the synth layers captivates you and Chedlia’s voice starts the first verse, but she’s not alone this time. Mixed in the background is a second voice that, if I’m right, belongs to Oliver Thom who’s also the singer of EQUATRONIC. Even though it’s quite straight, I doubt that this song would fill the dance floors as the rhythm is a little bit too complex for that occasion.
09. Suffering game - 5:06
‘Suffering game’ is a song that reminds a lot of the 80s due to its whole instrumentation that sounds as if synths from that time were used. You can loose yourself in the very wide strings and synth layers that create a quite dark atmosphere and on top of that is as always the clean and charismatic chant processed with reverberation effects.
10. Silent Thunder - 3:49
Right fitting to the title a thunder appears at the beginning but it’s anything but silent. This is just the introduction for another very calm and balladry track on the album. The lush drums sound like percussions and are the fundament on top of wide synth layers and melodic synth lines that have been added to create a melancholic mood.
11. Is this the End? - 4:20
The closing track is arranged in a very classical way and is a wonderful and fragile track that only consists of a slowly played piano melody and some strings to intensify the atmosphere. Chedlia’s emotional chant really enchants you and causes you goose bumps for sure.
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 7
Sound: 7
Extras: -
Total: 7
Conclusion
SUBSTANCE OF SHADE comes up with a variety of different influences on their first album. Some tracks like ‘Reality’ include industrial elements or ‘Land of no return’ which sounds almost like a medieval track and even a wonderful piano ballad found its place on this release. If you’re more into more club orientated tracks ‘Numeric Fields’ and ‘Run’ are the track of your choice. On top of it all is always the charismatic voice of Chedlia Tebbi that puts a stamp on the composition. Not a high-flyer but it’s definitely a solid debut.
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