Z-Effektor - Zwischen XII Uhr

Title: Zwischen XII Uhr
Artist: Z-Effektor
Genre: Electro, Dark Wave
Release Date: 7th August 2009
Label: Danse Macabre



Album Review

Describing the style of the debut album `Zwischen XII Uhr´, the Southern German formation Z-EFFEKTOR chooses the expression “Renaissance Electro”. As far as I remember the cultural movement’s characteristics besides Humanism, its fine arts were enriched by some special features. Regarding the era’s music, instruments such as organ, flute, harp and lute had a strong influence on the former soundscapes and marked the beginning of a new musical diversity.

Transferring these facts to the recent long-player, one of the mentioned instruments, the organ, really plays a big part concerning the entire album’s atmosphere and makes the recording differ from other Electro releases. All in all, the tracks are pleasantly diverse with regard to tempo and tunes: For example, the up-tempo pieces `Spinnlein´ and `Fahr zur Hölle´ couldn’t be more different. The first one is a danceable track featuring a playful Synth intro and a nursery rhyme-like chorus. The second one is an EBM-influenced blast with spare lyrics that are rather battle calls. Due to the combination of catchy Synth sounds and melancholic vocals, the solemn title track reminds me of Dark Wave anthems taken from the 1980s.

The German and English singing of Xenia and Leana also displays a classical attitude and may appear unusually to those who mainly associate Electro and Dark Wave stuff with distorted male vocals. Thus, it isn’t boring anyway to listen to, as `Zwischen XII Uhr´ is an ambivalent production reflecting traditional music as well as modern sounds. Therefore, it offers a great variety and is certainly worth buying.


Tracklist
06. Armee der Finsternis – 4:17
07. Wenn Engel fallen – 5:38
08. Your Nightmare – 5:15
09. Die Schuld – 5:17
10. Hexenfluch – 4:23
11. Fahr zur Hölle – 4:23
12. Teleutaion – 5:04
13. Melancholie – 6:45
14. Dämmerung – 2:30


Line-up

Phantom
Leana
Chromatics
Xenia


Website

http://www.z-effektor.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/zeffektor


Cover-Picture




Rating

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