!distain - On/Off

Well, it’s been quite the time since I last listened to a decent synth - pop band reminiscent of the good/old 80s. Thankfully, gentlemen Alexander Braun and Manfred Thomaser have meant to take care of it, making up for the musical vacuum. The essence is: the duo has carefully harked at this era they live in, adapting their very sound.

It is quite harsh to even start off: Alex’s astonishing singing, the totally and easily elevating music? Melodies occur that actually fill one with hundreds of emotions, thought, melancholy, simple words which get stuck in the listener’s mind. All you just will, is listening the album again and from scratch, gradually becoming one with the band, to be taken there, where there music dwells, to embark on this musical journey along, a journey with roots spotted back in the 80s. The listener is run by wonderful feelings throughout this synth – pop voyage. Listen to “My God”, a composition I think will make you realize what I’m talking about. However, each and every song (not one is excluded) is a mere masterpiece, featuring such musical/aesthetical balance, such tight work, and quite the deep, thought-provoking lyrical breed.

As long as there are bands of standards alike, this musical genre will never cease to be.

Tracklist:
01. The 6th Floor
02. Mein Weg
03. Why (Bootlicking Hypocrites)
04. 100%
05. Values Of Truth
06. What Do You Want From Me
07. My God
08. Monokultur
09. Together
10. Second Coming
11. Mediaeval Presence
12. Mein Weg

9/10   Kostas Sotiriou