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Archived Reviews
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If you're suffering Seabound withdrawal symptons, caused by their (hopefully temporary) hiatius then this debut from Frank Spinath's new project Edge Of Dawn, which sees him teaming up with Mario Schumacher, will ensure you don't have to go totally cold turkey. I'm sure the artists would disagree with me saying that the EOD sound is very close to the Seabound style we all know & love but there's no getting away from the fact that it is. This is partly down to Spinath's vocals being as smoothly distinctive as ever but the combination of high compositional standards & imaginative use of sound (the expressive rhythmic patterns of 'The Flight (Lux)' being one prime example) also plays its part, as does the mixing of darker verses & melodic singalong choruses. This latter aspect works particularly well on 'Elegance', where the whispered vocals recite some quite raunchy lyrics. Over all, this is a consistently engaging album that is soulful enough to grab hold of your heart, with the interlinking vocal lines of 'Black Heart' & the mood that graces both 'Beauty Lies Within' & the plaintive 'Pray For Love', which both scale new heights of emotion, being just a few highlights, whilst also remaining imaginative enough to keep things interesting. The dramatic edge that, in unison with Firoozeh Aryaie-Koenig's exotic voice, adds an additionally feeling of mystery to the excellent 'Chamber Six', proves this is an album of many different faces that, even at its poppiest, strikes the perfect balance between the accessable & the imaginative. Look underneath the polished music & the lyrics uncover some perhaps uncomfortable emotions, an approach that even extends to the intriguing cover art. The guitar loop that forms the basis of 'Descent' is the perfect example of this balance & lends itself to another imaginative piece while the infectious chorus of 'The Nightmare I Am' is sure to become an instant crowd favourite. Likewise, the manner in which 'Isolation' incorporates all these facets into its 5 minute duration, building from its quiet beginnings into a dynamic & robust offering is pretty masterful, proving that this duo are totally on top of their game & providing a startling contrast to the short epilog 'What If', where Spinath's spoken voice is accompanied by an atmospheric backing, the questions he asks ensuring that the music box that is the last sound we hear provides little comfort. It's certainly a thought-provoking closer that subtly draws you in, leaving a palpable sense of unease in its wake |
