Search, The - Saturnine Songs

The album we’re dealing with here is already their fourth one carrying the title ‘Saturnine Songs’. Already with the first tones of the opener ‘Distant’ you won’t get rid of the feeling that the works of bands like THE CURE or JOY DIVISION had quite some influence on the sound of THE SEARCH. But the band shouldn’t be looked at as a mere copycat. They take these influences and create something own out of it, a wonderful symbiosis out of melancholic wave, light-footed pop and a pinch of 70s rock. The compositions constantly swing between those poles. The second track ‘Swimmer’ is a rather dark and fragile appearing tune, walking on the paths of melancholy strings and piano lines are being carried by a fundament of vivid drumming, bass and acoustic guitar whereas the following ‘Woman in the Corner’ opts for a pop approach, still with a hint of melancholy in it. The highlight of the track for me was at about 2:10 where Razmig performs the chorus at the top of his voice, a very touching moment with highest goose bump factor.

‘Netherworld’ appears a bit scurrile with lines like “Someone sends you letters, sender unknown” and “Receiving strange messages on the telephone” a bit as if borrowed from an old spine-chiller but it radiates a strange charm you can’t get away from. ‘Other World’ definitely has a big doze of THE CURE; it’s also one of my favourite and a personal listening tip. With ‘Jester’ follows a genuine ballad with a stately tempo, carried by beautiful arranged strings and Razmig’s convertible voice. At this point I should mention that the strings are actually real ones and not synthesized. ‘You seek approval in the wrong people’ and ‘Yes-Man’ are already closing the album and especially during ‘Yes-Man’ the guys give everything for the last time and steadily rock the house.