Title: Water
Artist: Blame
Genre: Electronic
Release Date: 4th April 2008
Label: Klangdynamik Records
Introduction
BLAME paints the world we - humans - have shaped for ourselves, for our future - be it for better or worse. It’s a hypothesis of the post-historical time. In which Epic is not dead. It cannot die. It is just counting silently, waiting… BLAME is, despite the fact that this is the debut album, no newcomer as the project already started in 2003, when the project already released its first demo appeared followed by an appearance on the well-known Septic compilation series of now closed-down label Dependent Records. In 2004, ‘Water’ was released in a small issue on the label Cold Trinity, still the band remained an insider’s tip. Four years, the project returns with a re-mastered edition of ‘Water’.
Members
Boris Posavec - concept, music, programming, lyrics, vocals and production.
Website
http://www.blame-music.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/blameindustrial
Track Review
01. Ragnarok (The Final Winter) - 4:47
The album opens with melodic smooth synth melodies and a crackling sample with a hint of distortion before the fats-paced beat is coming in. When Boris is starting the first verse, a certain melancholy reaches out to the listener and his chant is unbelievably fragile like he’s short before a breakdown, like there’s almost no more power left and he’s singing these lines with his last ounce of strength.
02. Legions (Across These Oceans) - 5:33
A murderously energetic beat is blowing you away, when the song starts and when it’s time for the chant to bring back the melancholy again, you’ll notice a low synth sound like blowing wind in the background, far in the distance and barely audible. The chorus in which a mighty, cinematic texture is accompanying the vocal lines is packed with emotions. The longing to find forgiveness “…across these oceans”.
03. Waterside - 7:38
‘Waterside’ brings in a cascading synth melody at the beginning and then the driving bass line makes clear that there will be no time to rest at all. The track will work in both in the clubs and at home. The former because of its club-friendly beat; the latter one because there’s this special mood contained inside the track which is letting you drift away into another world. The track has also lots of layers, so sound fetishists will be pleased as well.
04. Modern Angels like us - 5:16
So it’s time for another up-tempo track huh?! OK, I’m in yet I think that there has to come something slower soon to calm down a bit, but the track is again an example of how club compatibility and complexity can be combined in one single track. The heavy drum line will kick butts for sure but the more interesting thing is the variety of sounds you can find here. Besides several distortion effects there’s also lots of melody captivated within breaking out in the chorus.
05. I Hate your Evolution - 3:21
This is a track which draws its power from the combined used of compressed and multi layered synth cascades enriched with the special kind of melancholic and dark atmosphere already experienced on other songs. Boris seems to have regained some strength as his voice is sounding much more powerful while still bearing a slight touch of wistfulness.
06. Unless [Violent] - 4:48
A track with two ‘Faces’ yet with one consistent factor spreading throughout the whole composition: A sublime darkness covering everything around. This track has another surprise up its sleeve as it’s a female voice who dominates most of the song. I suppose this must be Jelena Kevic named on the homepage and I just love that voice. Quite reluctant in the verses but unleashing her full power two the chorus, just like the corresponding arrangement does. These are the two faces I mentioned before and they provide for enough diversity.
07. Discreetly Exultant –- 3:52
…stays in the mid-tempo area and already introduces a nice effect right at the beginning, while the beat is pounding on a synth line is fading into the mix which seems to be a bit out of tune. It runs against the rhythm so to say. The vocal lines reminding me a bit of the last song from their rhythm, but the whole character of the song is different. It doesn’t have these outbursts, it stays pretty calm and the floating ambient textures seem to expand into eternity. Truly a special song.
08. 1000 Pieces of your Smile - 4:21
With lots and lots of layers and with a healthy doze of ambience this song comes along. The rhythms are constantly morphing and changing their appearances and new sequences get introduced as the song progresses. Enthroned over all this is again the voice of Boris who is putting its stamp on the track.
09. Evolution - 4:49
You should take this title literally referring to the structure of the song which is in an ongoing process of evolution. The track starts with some pure ambient layers to which a distorted sequence is added and then the up-tempo bear breaks through the wall.
10. Blame Praetorian - 6:04
This is the only track that wasn’t included on the original release of ‘Water’. ‘Blame Praetorian’ is an instrumental track that shows how you can construct a track in a diverse way even without the necessity of using vocals. I find that the ambience is very much keeping back and the emphasis is put on the rhythmic section. There’s still enough ambience yet in smaller dozes and then very intense in my opinion.
11. Waterside [Hypogeum] - 5:39
What caches the attention instantly is that this version of ‘Waterside’ has a faster pace than its original incarnation what makes it a perfect candidate for the use in clubs. Besides that it uses slightly different sequences and fewer vocals. I’m not quite sure how this second version actually fits into the album flow. Maybe just to show a different side of the track, but I still prefer the original because of its mood.
12. Sentinels Asleep - 4:14
Did I already mention that I’m really into that ambient stuff and because of this ‘Sentinels Asleep’ is the perfect track for me to close the album. There are only few rhythms only to give some kind of ordering element to the track. The rest is a very concentrated form of ambient with alternating textures and melodies fused with various samples.
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 8
Conclusion
I read some texts saying that “BLAME has influences of COVENANT, DIARY OF DREAMS and DIORAMA” but the thing is I don’t really like those kinds of comparisons except for the sake of giving a small hint on what the listeners can expect from the sound. In case of BLAME I must say that these comparisons couldn’t be farther away from the truth because if you disregard the melancholy resonating within the tracks, BLAME has nothing to do with those bands. BLAME has its own sound, a unique voice and good arrangements pending from calmer to rather up beat tracks. Go and listen for yourself.
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