Title: Eclectric
Artist: Psy'Aviah
Genre: Electronic
Release Date: 19th March 2010
Label: Alfa Matrix
Album Review
The Belgian friends Emélie Nicolaï (vocals, lyrics), Yves Schelpe (machines, vocals, lyrics) and Kristof De Clerck (guitars) founded the Progressive Electro Rock project PSY´AVIAH in 2003. In the same year, the trio won the demo poll of the popular Belgian radio station Studio Brussels and went on touring Europe. The debut album `Creationism´ was released in 2007; the second full-length recording `Entertainment Industries´ followed up in August 2008. Since March, they've a new album out called 'Eclectric'.
The album enters the arena, accompanied by the initially phase-shifted sequencing tones of 'No Excuse', soon getting equipped with a significantly harder edge by adding a dominating beat section, creating an additional threatening current within the structure. Then 'Keep Hope Alive' follows up in a similar vein arrangement-wise, but keeping a bitter taste of desperation alive within the otherwise quite melancholic harmonies, enriched with an organic sky of guitars if I'm not completely mistaken. '!AllAboutYou' is encompassed by an icy wind that adds high shivers to the spine, while the song keeps developing over the course of its duration. Vocals are coming from a machine this time, it seems but if you give it a closer listen you can hear the circulating emotions underneath the surface. On 'Something Evil', autumnal atmospheres take shape and partially take over the control within the song. Emélie's vocals naturally blend with the laid-out sonic carpets here and make this track an intriguing ride.
'Attract/Reject' classically fades-in and adapts its title's contrastive nature musically. Like the surface of water, first being all calm and peaceful until waves start to ripple everything and sooner than you think, you're looking at the stormiest sea you've ever seen. 'Ophélie' comes up with Jean-Luc de Meyer of FRONT 242 on vocals, performing them in French. The smooth expression of the words again makes up a contrast to the edgy orchestration of the intricate drum parts on the powerful track. 'Rivotril Nights' is an evocative instrumental tune, living on dreamy soundscapes taking your mind far away, combining everything with grainy down-tempo beats and flashes of experimentalism. 'Kings & Queens', starting the second CD 'Eclectricism', only available in the limited edition of the album, proceeds with the calm attitude from before but is combining the electronic frameworks with the ethereal vocal harmonies of singer Kristell Lowagie. 'Memoires' even leaves out any drums completely and thus gives ample space to an ambient environment to unfold.
'Seduction' closes the circle of new material with a quite poppy dance anthem. The rest of the bonus CD is filled up with a plethora of remix works from peers such as IC 434, ACYLUM or ESSENCE OF MIND. PSY'AVIAH aren't miserly with diversity on their newest silver disc, and together with the good production work and resulting sound quality the album is plain fun listening
Tracklist
CD 1
01. No Excuse
02. Keep Hope Alive
03. !AllAboutYou
04. Something Evil
05. Anger Management
06. Attract/Reject
07. Paranoid
08. Blackhole
09. Ophélie (Featuring Jean-Luc De Meyer)
10. Sweet Hard Revenge
11. Into The Game (Featuring Ayria)
12. Twisted Mind
13. Fear Theory (Theory)
14. Fear Theory (Practice)
15. Rivotril Nights
CD 2 (Eclectricism) [Ltd.Ed Only]
01. Kings & Queens (Featuring Kristell Lowagie)
02. Memoires
03. Bad Gods Pray (Featuring Sowphie)
04. Seduction
05. Anger Management (IC 434 re-take)
06. No Excuse (Acylum Remix)
07. Sweet Hard Revenge (Alpha Q Mix)
08. Anger Management (Break The Beat Mix)
09. Anger Management (EX.ES Remix)
10. Sweet Hard Revenge (Dead Errant Soul Remix)
11. Anger Management (Essence Of Mind Remix)
12. No Excuse (Studio-X Hard Dance Remix)
13. Paranoid (Symboly Of A Transcient Society Mix)
Line-Up
Yves Schelpe
Emélie Nicola
Kristof De Clerck
Website
http://psyaviah.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/psyaviah
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 7
Sound: 8
Extras:
Total: 7.5 / 10
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