Title: Strangers
Artist: System Syn
Genre: Electronic
Release Date: 30th April 2010
Label: Dependent Records
Album Review
Not less than 5 albums and three EPs have been released within the first seven years of SYSTEM SYN, the project Clint Carney started in 1997. Besides, he's remixed countless artists and contributed to several compilations and a movie soundtrack. Somewhere along that road, somebody needed to see the potential of SYSTEM SYN, and somebody did. 2004 saw the release of the first official album 'Premediated', supported by an extensive North American tour. In 2005, SYSTEM SYN moved to renowned Metropolis Records for the release of their next album 'Postscript', which caught quite some attention. Immediately after the release work started on the follow-up. 'The Mourning Ritual' came out just a year after the last album. Doubts on whether the project could surpass that achievement at all were swept away with the 2008 release of 'End'.
Nearly two years have passed since, and Carney wasn't lazy during that time working on their next album 'Strangers'. The album begins with 'The Fall', phasing in with the crackling and the odd sounds of a broken vinyl, then a whistling becomes audible, soon to unfold the elemental force of raw dance beats and chopped incursions of guitars. Clint Carney, while certainly not being the best singer of all time, still has a way of delivering vocals that is intriguing and brings the emotional content he wants to transport with that track straight to the point. 'Chemical' continues from there with an admirable consistence. Sound-wise it somehow relates to electronic music icons such as PROJECT PITCHFORK. At times it comes very close to material from their latest album. Take that as a compliment! On the other hand Carney adds to it a distinctive modern drift that is not reminiscent of anything and makes up the unique character.
'The Inconvenient' is known to many already, being a contribution to the 'Dependence 2010' compilation and was definitely the right choice for making a harbinger to the new album. Despite getting another excellently executed dance track, the real highlight for me is the chorus section, heartfelt and unashamedly catchy. A standout track! "So suddenly you care / to be a part of this / to help me through this life..." 'God and Country' breaks with the flow and creates a moody environment for the sad elements, first merely recognized as undertones, to gain strength in the course and surface eventually to flood the listeners minds completely , dragging them into desperation. "Are you there? / Are you listening to me?! The first notes of 'Drone' lace comforting melodies to a crunchy beat and expand that harmonious interplay as the track progresses. It's evocating a much more melancholic timbre than the previous danceable efforts that were primarily bringing forth a rather aggressive stance. 'Here's To You' utilizes guitars; given these are guitars, in an interesting way giving birth to a kind of thumping recurring theme.
A waltz of sadness comes up with the ballad 'Hospitals', representing the anthem of a broken man, a broken existence whose martyred soul state reflects in the vocals of Clint Carney, who sings over a soundscape of touching piano and orchestral majesty. The following 'Curtain Call' hardly reaches that intensity. But it's hard to stand against such a masterpiece anyway and is not to diminish the quality of the closing act of an album that doesn't fail to impress and which is a landmark for SYSTEM SYN. If this album's not going to lift them from their existence in the shadow then I don't know what is.
Tracklist
01. The Fall - 3:50
02. Chemical - 3:31
03. The Inconvenient - 4:00
04. God and Country - 5:18
05. Rex Mortuus Est - 3:55
06. Drone - 4:00
07. Here's to You - 4:37
08.Strangers - 4:40
09. A Better Day Tomorrow - 5:05
10. Hospitals - 4:18
11. Curtain Call - 4:57
Line-Up
Clint Carney - All Music, Vocals & Lyrics
Website
http://www.systemsyn.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/systemsyn
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 8 / 10
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