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“Tochka” Club, Moscow, Russia
25th September 2009
Synthember Wave with Perfidious Words, T.O.Y., De/Vision

Synthember Wave attracted my attention because it was a chance to see live performances of three different synth pop bands and I thought a real fan of electronic music would not miss such an opportunity. That’s why it was a bit surprisingly for me not to notice a queue on the way to “Tochka”. But if in at 7p.m. the club was almost empty, in an hour the quantity of people grew significantly and the crowd outside almost doubled (as I was told by a friend who came much later).


Perfidious Words

German future pop band PERFIDIOUS WORDS, founded by Drazen Kostelac and Lars Rohnstock, is well-known for its first EP ‘Ruined’ released in 1997. ‘Hydrogen Skies’ (1998), the debut album of the duo, was immediately appreciated by electronic music fans. ‘Spreading Silence’ (2002), the second successful release, brought even more popularity to the band which preferred to remain in the background. And now after almost 7 years of silence PERFIDIOUS WORDS returns with the third studio album ‘Feel like Me’. http://www.perfidiouswords.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/perfidiouswordsmusic

Music & Performance
The first band of the evening, PERFIDIOUS WORDS, appeared on the stage several minutes earlier while most of people were near bars or even outside the club. But in some time the crowd near the stage was getting bigger and the show continued accompanied by irregular screams of the audience. Unfortunately PERFIDIOUS WORDS are not so well-known in Russia and for most of the people including me it was the first introduction to its music. And rather good I may say. The band performed the new material alternating it with old songs. Deep, dark vocals and catchy melodic lines made the audience even its most sceptical part to clap their hands and sing along with Drazen and Lars, even not knowing the words of the songs. Despite the absence of animation, the two guys were able to create a melancholic atmosphere which dispelled only in the end of their performance.

Rating
Music: 7
Performance: 2
Sound: 8
Light: 5
Total: 5.4 / 10


T.O.Y.

The members of the band started their creative work in the EBM project EVIL’S TOY in 1992. Recorded 7 albums, the musicians realized that it was time for something new. The name was changed into T.O.Y. (Trademark Of Youth) and the electro-industrial style smoothly turned into synth pop. Now the band is making a new album which will be released in autumn this year. T.O.Y. is Volker Lutz (vocals, songwriting, production) and Christian “Léo” Leonhardt (drums). http://www.toy-music.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/toymusic

Music & Performance
T.O.Y., another interesting band again not very well-known in Russia, started the performance with a short introductory speech. Both members of the duo were wearing white shorts and ties and looked more like clerks than musicians. Yet it was only the first impression. The band made an original show combining drums with synth sounds. As special guest of the evening, Chris Ruiz from AND ONE joined T.O.Y. in the concert and the duo became a trio. There were not many new songs but the sound of the old ones slightly changed and the audience accepted those new versions of the band’s hits with excitement. In pauses between the songs, Volker Lutz talked to the fans, joked, and shook hands. So, one more performance of the evening brought with it a completely different atmosphere - jovial and warm. And it remained almost the whole change over which was very long.

Rating
Music: 8
Performance: 4
Sound: 7
Light: 5
Total: 6.2 / 10


De/Vision

DE/VISION, one of the most famous representatives of the synth pop music, was founded in 1988 in Bensheim. Originally a quarter, in 12 years of its existence the band became a duo with a pure electronic sound dilute with elements from other styles. In 2007, DE/VISION released the 10th studio album ‘Noob’ and now the guys are working on a new still untitled CD, teamed up with the producers Schumann and Bach. DE/VISION is Steffen Keth (lead vocals, synths, composing) and Thomas Adam (synths, backing vocals, lyrics). http://www.devision-music.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/devisionmusic

Music & Performance
DE/VISION visits Russia every year and this one wasn’t an exception. But as it was announced by the organizers, the band prepared surprises for its Russian fans. First of all, the setlist was changed, besides Steffen and Thomas promised to perform some brand new compositions. The gig started with ‘Star-Crossed Lovers’, an older and still popular song, and went on with new things and well-known classic hits. Live performances of the duo are always very impressive, yet it seems that electronic bands simply can’t make a real show because of the specific nature of the music. Of course, the stage in “Tochka” looked empty: only two men, a microphone and a synthesizer, but that emptiness was fully compensated by Steffen’s fantastic voice and strange yet interesting dancing. Thomas seemed to detach himself from the reality coming back only to light another cigarette.

The audience was mesmerized by the atmosphere of dark romance. Such tracks as ‘Dinner without Grace’ and ‘Your Hands on my Skin’ aroused a strong reaction of the fans and the whole crowd sang the chorus with Steffen. As an encore DE/VISION performed ‘The End’ with Volker Lutz and ‘Try to Forget’. But everyone in the club wanted more and the band appeared again for a three-track encore. Thomas was really happy because he even mixed up the words and began to say “Dobrii vecher” (Good evening) instead of “Spasibo” (Thank you). Then he realized his mistake, smiled and lighted a cigarette. ‘Moments We Shared’ was the last song for the evening and, accompanied by a storm of applause, the band went back-stage to appear in the hall again on the after-party.

Setlist
01. Star-Crossed Lovers
02. Strange Affection
03. Today's Life
04. Sweet Life
05. Call my Name
06. Love me again
07. New Drug
08. Dinner without Grace
09. Deliver me
10. I Regret
11. Endlose Träume
12. Blue Moon
13. Love Will Find a Way
14. Addict
15. What you Deserve
16. Your Hands on my Skin
17. Flavour of the Week
---
18. The End (feat. Volker Lutz)
19. Try to Forget
---
20. Aimee
21. We Fly Tonight
22. Moments We Shared

Rating
Music: 8
Performance: 7
Sound: 8
Light: 6
Total: 7.4 / 10

In general I can admit that the whole evening was full of good music and, judging by happy faces of the fans, Synthember Wave really deserved the status of one of the most momentous synth pop events of the year.

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