Title: Anything That Gets You Through The Night
Artist: Edge of Dawn
Genre: Electronic
Release Date: 21st May 2010
Label: Dependent Records
Album Review
A sparsely illuminated red room, possibly at a brothel, or a motel somewhere in a foreign place! A woman getting "bed-ready" and an unknown guy in a suit, just watching...yet. On a first look that's a clear-cut situation. But is it really that simple? Sometimes it is, but since we're talking about EDGE OF DAWN we can't be absolutely certain what the guy's actually up to and which course the night's going to take. The credo just is 'Anything That Gets You Through The Night'.
If you were one of those, hearing the remix version of 'Beyond The Gate' first and then the original version, you realized the latter one is significantly more raw-edged in its fabric but still has enough danceability to keep one going. Now let's switch over to the lyrical part which is a focal point of the EDGE OF DAWN universe. "Enter at your risk it's vital / for the sake of your survival..." A warning is spoken to another person; maybe tied to the thought that one's close to crossing a point of no return, where they're becoming a vital danger especially for that person closest to them at that specific moment. Nevertheless, the protagonist seeks for a shelter, following an inner urge "I'm out of lies / I need a place I can go". 'Denial' tunes things down, reaching balladry regions with a yet forceful drum section that maliciously flows away under the mourning atmospheres, crafted of weighty strings and acoustic guitar. The key to the understanding of 'Denial' in my opinion lies within the title itself, since 'Denial' is not only mentioned as a step in the mourning process, but also is a defense mechanism of human psyche if something is too uncomfortable to accept.
In this case that is the death of a beloved person that wasn't prevented from happening. But in his imaginary world the death never happened and the patient created an alternative scenario. The whole lyrics seem like a therapy session. If you do the connection to the title now, keeping in mind what I just wrote ,everything will become clearer "There was no lake / You never tried to save her life". On 'All The Time', there's some kind of control exerted on someone to presumably re-shape the personality "Convulse on the impulse / This is how you'll learn / This is how I teach you to be a better man" Musically, the song is kind of poppy, even though it holds pretty much back with melody. The mood is mainly created through the vocals, and it feels not at all dark to me. Massive 'Stage Fright', we know already from the last part of the Septic compilation series, enters with fuzzy sounds, leading over to the electrifying club beat that contains some signature elements, making it instantly recognizable as EDGE OF DAWN material.
The lyrics utilize a pictorial language, basing on firing various associations into the listeners subconscious that altogether build a greater picture I can't clearly see as yet, but I'm working on it. 'Valid World' starts full throttle with brooding bass lines, riding atop the throbbing beat, breeding a threatening aura just as if an emotional volcano is close to erupting with all its power. But the vessel of this is still fighting to hold it back. That would fit to the following lines "I'm Vesuvius / I Persevere". That feeling suddenly gives way to one of inner exhaustion "I'm strong / I'm tall / and I'm sick of it all / and I'm tired / so tired", a feeling cast into sound with resigning strings, frail hints of an acoustic guitar and a much urgent vocal delivery. With one little exception, 'Capture' is an instrumental construction that brings forth enormous capabilities in sound design with orchestral force and majesty, intermingling with the intricacy in the rhythmic department. The short German lyrics wrap up strong emotions in just a few carefully chosen words.
Now one of those you just have to assign the attribute "Huge" to and that is 'Save My Soul'. At first appearing quite plain, its true grandeur unfolds with that goose-bump triggering chorus "Come to the rescue of my soul / from the shadows of my memories..." A shattered soul, begging to be released from the shadowy retrospections of a painful past, keeping it from stepping into the light by own strength. Will this pleading be heard? My pleadings and prayers were definitely heard with 'Anything That Gets You Through The Night'. Not only does it once again stand-out with its intelligent lyrics that provide fodder for the brain, it also succeeds in carefully expanding the EDGE OF DAWN sound cosmos while not throwing well-tried signatures aboard. The album shows the duo audibly matured in all departments. Album of the year? Well, it's a contender.
Tracklist
01. Beyond The Gate - 4:54
02. Denial - 4:22
03. All The Time - 3:48
04. Stage Fright - 5:03
05. Valid World - 3:52
06. Capture - 3:44
07. Lucid Dreams - 4:28
08. Falling - 4:36
09. Siren's Call - 4:09
10. In Your Sleep - 4:00
11. Save My Soul - 3:35
12. Capsized - 4:28
Line-Up
Frank M. Spinath
Mario Schumacher
Website
http://www.edgeofdawn.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/edgeofdawnde
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 9
Sound: 9
Extras: -
Total: 9 / 10
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