Artist: Weareoff
Title: Objects In Motion
Genre: Indie / Electronic / Pop
Release Date: 10th May 2013
Label: Danse Macabre / afmusic
Album Review
Surely the 80’s revival has run its course by now? It’s the originality of an era, or how previous trends were interpreted at that time, that make a decade tempting to mine for a new generation. But when reinterpreting becomes merely aping, or regurgitating, then something is wrong. WEAREOFF, an earnest foursome from Germany, have camped themselves firmly in this ever decreasing circle, and whereas there is enough here to commend them, this new release feels two years too late to give them the keys to the next level.
Opener ‘Where There’s No Light’ is classic ‘Faith’ era THE CURE, doom-laden and oppressive and actually very good. Generic synth pop follows it, disappointingly, with weak melodies and not enough emphasis on the atmospherics. Name-drop THE CHAMELEONS and NEW ORDER at your peril if you haven’t the tunes to back it up. True fans of these Eighties giants expect something really special. COLD CAVE achieved it in 2011, as did sprightly DEPECHE MODE wannabes SCARLET SOHO. Both bands have since left that sound behind and moved onwards and upwards.
‘From End To Start’ works well, it slow-burns itself nicely from THE CURE songbook into something more meaty and modern, and ‘The Pain Remains The Same’ is big of bass and crackling with ideas. Closer ‘The Wait’ is great until the singing starts, which seems to lack any direction. Bereft of tune, this would have made a seriously good instrumental. It all comes down to that opening question. Is it time to leave the Eighties, and more importantly the eighties revival behind? If so, and this reviewer certainly thinks it is, then this album is merely a competent footnote to a genre that has run its course.
Tracklist
01. Where There’s No Light
02. Chymera
03. Objects In Motion
04. Miracle
05. Bound By Silence
06. From End To Start
07. Breathless
08. The Pain Remains The Same
09. As Long As We Remember
10. The Wait
Line-up
Stefan Nielsen – Vocals, Guitar
Daniel Schlott – Bass, Synths
Angus Baigent – Guitar
Tobias Noormann – Drums
Website
www.weareoff.net / www.facebook.com/WEAREOFF
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 6
Sound: 6
Total: 6 / 10
