Title: Clockworks
Artist: Final Selection
Genre: Electro Pop
Release Date: 31st October 2008
Label: Flashpop Media
Album Review
Almost 4 years have passed since German duo FINAL SELECTION with ‘Meridian’ has released an acclaimed concept album. But the real big success didn’t come to them so far. The mistakes of their former label might be a reason for that; and it was also the reason why the respective parties parted ways eventually. Having no label anymore, both members solely focussed on studio work and the search for a new label as soon as the new record would be done. Following the signing to young Flashpop Media label the third album ‘Clockworks’ was finally launched in October 2008.
The album opener ‘Clockworks’ is setting up a sullen mood with gloomy synth layers with the emerging of gloomy, dense layers at an early point. The crisp industrial beat work which builds into a smooth, soft rhythm coupled with brighter sound-scapes eventually initially was an element I couldn’t make consistent with the sound I knew from Final Selection but it adds an exciting new facet. Riccardo’s vocals seem immersed within this sea of sounds. Just as if they’d belong there. The song’s highlight definitely is the chorus. It’s hard to describe the mood that indwells it properly. You need to feel it yourself and get carried away. The following slow ‘Travelling Man’ brings us into a magical world where time seems to have no meaning at all. A world with glowing, colourful lights everywhere! Weightless sound bits swirl around and suddenly it’s like you’re this travelling man “…reaching the edges of this world again.” ‘Lifelines’ has a pretty organic feeling to it concerning the rhythmic section and within the verses comes up with a polyphonic vocal approach with a distorted and a clean layer like two separate souls in the chest of one man.
Towards the chorus the song opens up with a deep atmosphere with a smooth transition from dusk to the upcoming dawn with the first rays of sunlight. ‘Red Lines’ captures the memories of a past love and channels it into a touching little piece of music. The longing streams through the melodies as the protagonist’s remembering the “…days by the sea.” In hopes that “this time will come back one day”. Brittle piano chords start dancing on a clear water surface as the chorus emerges and completes this wonderful composition. ‘Truly’ not only is one of the slowest tracks on ‘Clockworks’ it’s a pretty experimental piece incorporating creaking, noisy synth patterns and ominous atmospherics into the harmonic sound while bearing a spirit of deepest melancholy bordering on sadness as well as the will to fight to keep this world from falling apart completely.
It was about time for FINAL SELECTION to coma back and they did it once again. They’ve created a unique and I said it once before, magical, dreamy sound world that just sets them apart from many of their genre peers. If you want something completely taking you away into another universe then this is exactly the record you need!
Tracklist
01. Clockworks – 6:53
02. Travelling Man – 4:37
03. Lifelines – 5:35
04. Dreamworld – 5:23
05. Two Islands – 5:23
06. Red Lines – 4:22
07. Skindeep – 4:32
08. Nemo – 4:25
09. Truly – 4:32
10. My Life – 5:03
11. A Bitter Tear – 10:49
Line-up
Riccardo Schult - Vocals, Synths
Mario Tews - Synths
Website
http://www.final-selection.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/finalselection
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 9
Extras: -
Total: 8.5 / 10
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