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A doleful bells introduces "Never Know", before the guitars, synth and bass come in. Deep voiced Aleister Tennyson Hobbs provides the vocals. At only just over three minutes the song fades before you've got to know it properly, but it makes an intriguing opening to the album. "Walking Away" is less obviously gothic than the previous song, inhabiting the post punk area of The Bolshoi or The Chameleons. The song ends with a cliched guitar solo, which is a shame. "I Died For You" opens with interesting electronics, followed by Faith-era Cure bass and seriously flanged guitar. I glance at the running time - 5.24 - and settle in for the ride. Sometimes you are happy with a quick fumble, but at other times you want a seduction to last longer. There are some lovely moments when the other instruments fade out and we are left to enjoy swathes of synthesiser.
Just when the listener is threatening to slip into a somnambulist state - albeit a pleasant one - "Tiphereth" menacing appears on the horizon. There's an Eastern-vibe throughout, making this song a sort of gothic "Kashmir". It's difficult to decide where Dead Sea Surfers stand on the subject of Rabbinic Judaism, the religion which inspired the title of this song, but it's interesting to speculate. One of the good things about this album is that Dead Sea Surfers aren't content to stick to one sound. Everything is a variation of post punk, synthpop or goth, but there is great diversity within those genres. "Already Home" has a dirty punk, Stooges kind-of vibe. I prefer the smoother alternative style of "I Just Want To Be", but the world would be a very boring place if we all liked the same thing. "Want To Be Free" has the feeling of a less feedback-ridden Jesus And Mary Chain. This style continues with "Be Alone", though this time there's a hint of Sigue Sigue Sputnik's "Love Missile F1-11". We're back in goth territory for "Alone Again", which is a pleasant listen but doesn't quite warrant its six minutes plus running time. "Speed Queen" sees us back in Jesus and Mary Chain land again, though the vocals are more spirited than anything the Reid brothers ever recorded. "Who Do I Know" starts with echo-laden guitar, which is then mixed with sonorous synth, to good effect. "I Thought Of You" reminds me of classic 90s goth band Big Electric Cat. It's dark, driving and intense, with raspy vocals belched from the underworld, in a melodic way. The synths surge seductively. With an exciting instrumental break it deserves its six minute running time. The lead guitar proves to be much more effective when used in short bursts. A cover of Joy Division's "Shadowplay" brings proceedings to a close. It's a decent version, but is hardly indispensable. It could prove to be a live favourite though. Dead Sea Surfers strike a balance between having a recognisable signature sound and providing enough variety to engage the listener. Fans of post punk, synthpop or goth - or ideally all three - should investigate further. |
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