CD Review: Rome - Die Aesthetik der Herrschaftsfreiheit

Artist: Rome
Title: Die Aesthetik der Herrschaftsfreiheit
Genre: Neofolk
Date: 11th November 2011
Label: Trisol

Album Review

Luxembourgish ROME has become one of the best known Neofolk acts in the past few years. Having released albums with the breathtaking pace of one per year, few would have guessed what Jerome Reuter, the mastermind behind ROME would do next - switch gears up and release three full-length albums at once. Consumers’ attention span is getting shorter: Music downloading and streaming services encourage picking out only the most appealing tracks - to the extent where one can start talking about the looming death of the album format. With monumental ‘Die Aesthetik der Herrschaftsfreiheit’, ROME is going against the flow. Reuter has always been one of the most imaginative, mature song-writers in the genre, but on this trilogy, he has managed to top his previous achievements and create a cohesive, captivating piece of work that is as rewarding as it is challenging.

'Die Aesthetik der Herrschaftsfreiheit ' is the first ROME album to be recorded with analogue technique and minimal post-production. It is deliberately a low-key production especially when compared to ‘Nos Chants Perdus’, but low-key does by no means equal sloppy: In case of 'Die Aesthetik der Herrschaftsfreiheit', the result is very close to ROME live sound, which, most of the time, is simply fabulous. Acoustic elements are more in the forefront and Reuter’s dexterous guitar work stands out from the generic Neofolk strumming. Martial industrial influences are still present, but excessive use of samples, characteristic to early ROME albums, has been replaced by long, German-spoken passages, which cunningly frame and tie the pieces together. Reuter's deep, husky voice is certainly one of Rome's distinctive features. On 'Die Aesthetik der Herrschaftsfreiheit', he is seeking (and, to be frank, sometimes finding) boundaries of his vocal range. Overall, the vocals are, despite of some mannerisms, more versatile than ever, expressive and layered.

The hollow sound of marching feet
The first album of the trilogy, ‘Aufbruch - A Cross Of Wheat’, is opened by a spoken passage and an angry, chaotic instrumental piece that serves as an introduction and dramatic backdrop to hell of a triad that follows. Although the 12" and trilogy were advertised as a change in direction ("gone are the lush ballads"), 'The Spanish Drummer' definitely represents ROME as so many have learned to know and love it. Frenzied 'To Teach Obedience' with its Ennio Morricone influences reminds me of Spiritual Front, although lyrics are once again in a league of their own. Poignant 'The Death of Longing' is a move into a completely another emotional sphere – it is a heartfelt, placid song with intricately laced guitar work. From here, we march towards the turmoil. 'Our Holy Rue' is an outtake from a 12" that preceded the trilogy. Single outtakes tend to be the easiest-to-access pieces from the forthcoming album, but ROME has gone completely against the trend here: 'Our Holy Rue' is harsher for the ears than perhaps anything that ROME put forward before. While it indeed captures the mayhem of a violent revolution, I personally found that the production, particularly the heavy-handed use of reverb, was beginning to distract from rather than add to the piece. This is where it also gets slightly more challenging; another set of spoken passages and instrumentals follow, and then another triad of more classical Neofolk ballads that, although representing excellent song-writing, does not stand quite as tall as the first. Again the production and slightly out-of-tune guitars on 'Merchant Fleet' - another 12" outtake - are somewhat alienating from the song itself, which is excellent.

Once we fought and we planted a seed - and you will find that we are not done
The second album opens with a lament of a lone, mourning violin that puts the second part of the trilogy in a different, bleak light. ‘Aufruhr - A Cross of Fire’ is the most discouraged and cynical, if not downright grim, of the three. ‘Seeds of Liberation’ could be straight out of the rebellion’s bonfire, echoing the 60s folk and political songs movement. Again, ROME takes the listener to an emotive journey from shadows to highlights and back: Drum driven, angry and sinister 'Sons of Aeeth' is definitely one of the highlights of the second album if not the whole trilogy. However, ‘Aufruhr’ is my least favourite one - additionally, I find that some parts could perhaps use some finishing touches.

Ballots and bullets cannot debate what we know
The final part of the trilogy asks what do we have left once the grinding wheels of violence have passed: Was it ‘All for Naught’? The third album begins again with a triad that would make many song-writers in the genre green with envy, and it continues just as good: ‘Aufgabe - A Cross of Flowers’ is probably the strongest one of the three to stand on its own. Finally, the adamance of 'Ballots and Bullets' sums up it all: Resistance cannot be silenced forever. The change is inevitable, whether we like it or not. On 'Die Aesthetik der Herrschaftsfreiheit ', Reuter has taken forward the underlying themes of the previous albums (Spanish civil war on ‘Flowers from Exile’ and French resistance and underground leftist movement on ‘Nos Chants Perdus’). It reflects anarchistic, leftist world-views, but most importantly refusal to any kind of oppression independent of its political orientation - a welcome, refreshing exception in the Neofolk scene.

'Die Aesthetik der Herrschaftsfreiheit ' is a polished piece of work also when it comes to packaging. The booklets come with stylish artwork and, as a courtesy for us less linguistically talented listeners, complete lyrics including the spoken passages. Those who pre-ordered the box set in time, even got a free t-shirt and badge as an extra, however, as a travel-sized person I personally would have liked to see them coming also in a one-size girlie version, as even the men’s S size completely swamped me. Not only blokes and amazons buy CDs, right? In any case, this is hardly a concern for anyone considering buying the trilogy now as the original box set is long sold out. Those who missed it will be relieved to know that the three parts of the trilogy are now also available separately as 'Die Aesthetik der Herrschaftsfreiheit' is definitely a piece of work that deserves attention. Reuter has created a beautiful glass bead game that rewards the listener: 'Die Aesthetik der Herrschaftsfreiheit' is laden with recurrent themes and references not only to music but also literature and poetry. It brings in front of us a whole new world, an alternate history of fortitude, where apprehension and resolution go hand in hand.


Tracklist

Line-up

Jerome Reuter


Website

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ROME-Jerome-Reuter/147342365313742 / www.myspace.com/romecmi


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 10
Sound: 8
Extras: 9
Total: 9 / 10