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Archived Reviews
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This second Ayria release sees Jennifer Parkin really stretching herself, both in terms of composing, as she broads her musical range to excellent effect & also the programming as, unlike the preceeding "Debris", which relied heavily on the expertise of Shaun Frandsen & DJ Ram, this is all her own work (although Joe Byer did lend a helping hand where needed). Both the packaging & the music reveal Jennifer's love of contrasts, whether it's the cover's bright colours, with an obvious liking for pink, that might lead the unsuspecting listener to think this is the new Britney Spears (apart from the little matter of Jennifer having more talent in her little finger!) or the counting singalong lyrics that sit alongside the venom of the hard EBM that characterised the preceeding EP "My Revenge Upon The World". Likewise the mixing of lively danceable music & downbeat lyrics is a combination that has served her well since her Epsilon Minus days & it's no less effective here, particularly during the opening "It's Been Fun" where she adds a profoundly personal & intimate feel to the downbeat lyrics that contrast sharply with the lively, danceable music. Likewise the ultra-catchy "Selling Rebellion" proves another early highlight & surefire club smash while the more forthright tone of "My Device" suits the initially imposing bass motif as it builds into a pacey, spikey number although Jenn's voice does seem to get drowned out slightly. It's a varied album, too, incorporating synthpop, as both "Be Me" & "Post Apocalyptic Girl" show Goldfrapp & the like how it's done as well as industrial, with the powerful "Counterblow" offering ample proof of this musical progression while "Pink Dress" alternates between haunting verses & an almost grungey chorus that lacks guitars but which totally rocks even so. As a complete contrast, the haunting "St. Edith" brings the emotional side of Ayria more to the fore as does the closing "Lovely Day", where a solid rhythmic base, deeply resonant bass chords & downbeat lyrics mix to create a mood evoking a day that is anything but lovely while the guitar samples add a nice organic touch, especially as these are the last sound we hear, fading away into nothingness which only serves to emphasise the dark mood still further. So don't be fooled by the cover's bright colours, there's nothing bubblegum about this; it's exciting yet serious music with a strong emotive factor that deserves dancefloor acclaim & serious listening in equal measure. |
