Artist: IC 434
Title: Anhedonia
Genre: Electro / Dark EBM
Release Date: 9th December 2011
Label: Infacted Recordings
Album Review
IC 434, the band which took its name out of a nebula in the constellation of Orion, released their fifth album, ‘Anhedonia’, to describe the absence of pleasure and the ability to experience it. The great oxymoron here is that IC 434 and more specifically Geert de Wilde knows very well to create a dancing atmosphere, an atmosphere that is based on the sounds of a Korg M1. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the band is trapped into an 80’s cluster; it rather shows their ability to connect the past with a stark worldview of tomorrow. And besides the usual thematology of the genre about death and pain, animal abuse, and social criticism the band is delving into “archaeological mysteries” and astronomical observations all of them dressed with up-tempo and dark electro.
One of the best songs here is ‘Barnard 33’ also known as the Horsehead Nebula; the instrumental tribute to it is grand. The aspect of grandeur is dominant at ‘Anhedonia’ be it in music or terms of lyrics without drifting - much that is - to the point of a jeremiad. That is obvious in ‘Social Reality’, lyrically one of the weakest songs, where things are as you expect them to be; death and devastation dressed up with hints of conspiracy. And you’re always reminded that these “archaeological mysteries” will turn to be assertions of flying donkeys. The fact remains that IC 434 manages to balance between extremely uneven characteristics and furthermore to deliver an appealing and utterly danceable album.
Tracklist
01. An Ideal World
02. Social Reality
03. Anhedonia
04. Black Boy's Dead
05. Deportation
06. Doomwatcher
07. Rats
08. Sangre De Toro
09. The Waiting
10. Skullwatch
11. Broken Child
12. Barnard 33
Line-up
Geert de Wilde - composition and vocals
Nicolas van Meirhaeghe - live keyboards & percussion
Didier Didelez - live keyboards
Websites
https://www.facebook.com/IC434 / http://www.ic434.com/
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 9
Total: 8.5 / 10
