Review: No Angels - Welcome to the Dance

For those who don't know or don't remember No Angels was a German girl band that had a string of successful singles back in the early 00s before personal differences emerged on the surface and just as expected the band fell apart. After a break up in 2004 they reunited in 2006, obviously for worse. Their latest release is the album "Welcome to the Dance", which supposedly had to skyrocket their career back to the good old top.

Sadly for No Angels this album is a major flop lacking any decent sound and memorable tracks. It hurt so bad listening to it that my whole being had to recuperate with a no-music-day. OK, I might overreact a bit, but "Welcome to the Dance" is anything but a dance album. It incorporates more electronica than ever nefore, but it all sounds so out of place (and time) that you might take this whole experiment as a joke. What's more silly texts and ridiculous tunes don't stand for quality music of any kind...if you please.

After the rather poor reception of their fourth studio album "Destiny" things looked like as if No Angels were going to break up once and forever. Obviously they didn't, backing up their careers or more likely cutting their own throats with "Welcome to the Dance". I wonder if their producers really hate them that much, allowing the band to release such a pile of crap. Not that No Angels have ever been a staple of quality pop music, but at least that managed to keep their heads above surface. Right now their bodies are lifelessly floating somewhere in the Sea of kitsch, without any certainty to be found.

Don't get me wrong, I am pretty sure that there are people that this album will perfectly appeal to and they will enjoy listening to it on repeat. For those who happen to be open for something a bit more musically challenging and intriguing "Welcome to the Dance" should be anything but tempting. If still you are ready to give it a chance, don't say I didn't warn you! 'Njoy?

Personal rating: 3/10
The two singles:

Recommendation weekly: Nneka

Nneka's style could be described as Bob Marley meets Erykah Badu with a heavy African influence. This young, relatively still unknown, German-based Nigerian-born singer offers her very own experiences, beliefs and causes she eagerly supports. Nneka, originally from the Igbo ethnic group, has tries a few styles through her career extending from hip-hop, reggae, trip-hop and soul with a world music twist. Spending her childhood in her hometown of Warri, Nigeria Nneka tells stories that explore the diversity of African culture, the clash of modern thinking with traditionalism and the struggles that most African go through on daily basic. Criticizing capitalism and the self-absorption of Western societies Nneka makes some excellent good points that deserve to be heard out loud. To me Nneka is another living proof that music can still have a definite social connotation.

Recommendation Weekly: Shantel

Shantel, real name Stefan Hantel, is а German producer and a DJ, best known for mixing electronic music with traditional Balkan melodies. He has an extensive work with Gypsy orchestras and plenty of Balkan musicians. Before releasing his ever first studio album Shantel he produced two compilations of his own DJ night called Bucovina Club, which won him the BBC Radio 3 Award for World music, thus bringing him to fame and gaining him critical acclaim. In 2007 came out Shantel's first studio effort named "Disko Partizani", which was less electronic and more folk orientated, exploring the sounds of the Balkans. The album was positively received and propelled his popularity in countries like Turkey, Greece and Serbia.

He'll be having a concert in Bulgaria in less than a month and I am planing to see him live and let's hope he's as good in concert as recorded. Here are his two official videos and an extra pick-up from me.

Review: ATB - Future Memories

André Tanneberger best known just as ATB is one of the few trance musicians I could actually stand and therefore had to check his newest release "Future Memories", which is his seventh studio album. There are two official version of the album: normal one with just one CD, and a limited edition, which includes the second disc. The second disc contains chill-out tunes, as the first one carries his typical trance sound.

"Future Memories" is definitely going to be liked by Tanneberger's die-hard fans, but for the majority it will make no difference to his previous releases. We have already heard everything, perfectly know the track-structure and don't need to bet what samples are going to be included, which makes the album rather blunt and predictable. Of course, those who like ATB's typical sound will not be disappointed, but shouldn't expect anything in addition. Again André is working with plenty of musicians, among who are Josh Gallahan, Haley Gibby, Tiff Lacey and Aruna. Despite the big variety of guest musicians "Future Memories" actually sounds quite in the past, carrying the true spirit of those summer hits back in the beginning of the decade, which brought him to fame.

"Future Memories" lacks originality as a whole and I could hardly distinguish it from ATB's previous works. I wasn't really fascinated by any of the tracks, which variate from trance through downtempo and alternative dance. As long as I am concerned trance music has lost the power and slowly and surely is going down the slope until it ceases to exist. Although Tiësto, Armin van Buuren and ATB are still high on the charts there is a visible retardation in the whole development, which brings to the surface crucial changes and the extinction of many of its sub-genres.

Anyway, getting back to the album itself I should say that it is NOT horrible or unbearable, but have in mind that not much progress is made, which may be a plus to some and a major minus to others. No doubt ATB's is going to have a few new hits out of "Future Memories" and is going to be again among the top DJs in the world, but a change should come...if he may.

Songs to hear: "What About Us", "A New Day", "Behind" and "Swept Away"

Personal rating: 5 out of 10

Guano Apes are back in the house!

Isn't it lovely when good old bands reunite for the sake of their fans (and surely for financial reasons as well) and bring back the good old memories? Although it has been quite long as I have last listened to them they remain one of my favourite, especially from my teenage years when "Open Your Eyes" and "No Speech" could be heard everywhere. Yeah, memories crawl back so fast and now Sandra Nasic and company are getting back together after a 4-year hiatus and going on a "Summer Road Race Tour" in Europe.

For the time being these are the announced dates:
30.05 Sofia/Bulgaria
05.06 Nürnberg/Germany - Rock am Ring Festival
19.06 Nickelsdorf/Austria - Nova Rock Festival
11.07 Weert/The Netherlands - Bospop Festival
16.07 Porto/Portugal - Marés Vivas Festival
24.07 Malá Skála/Czech Republic - Benátská Noc Festival

Probably more to come...it is quite odd that only Bulgaria has a non-festival date, but I am pretty sure that they will add up other gigs.

Review: Diary of Dreams - (if)

I will skip all the praise about Diary of Dreams and their importance for the dark wave/gothic electro scene and I shall move to the album itself, which if I have to be honest they could perfectly do without. Sometimes performers and bands are so tired of touring, making music or other professional enterprises. However, Adrian Hates released (if) to all the high expectations of their fan base. I am far from being a die hard fan, but I am not impressed at all.

First of all, (if) has nothing new to offer, it contains everything that we have already heard and has absolutely no Easter eggs throughout the record. You should definitely get the special edition, which contains four extra tracks, which happen to be a bit better than most of the original content. Actually two of my favourite (quite a strong word, btw) happen to be bonus, but who knows could be a little act of greediness to make you buy the more expensive edition (I am joking...or not?).

Another thing is that most of the tracks are like material from early releases left for the generations. Perhaps (if) is somehow a return to the roots, but not quite impressive, by the way. It is more like a patch quilt made out of leftovers, although I am pretty sure Hates has put quite an effort...we are talking about sixteen songs. Still, he has quite the experience with extensive tracks, especially when you have the key to creating a dark ballad album, filled with despair and grief.

Even the pilot single "The Wedding" is nothing special...nothing to hold on while listening, neither the singing nor the music. Actually most of the album just goes into thin air no matter how much I am listening to it, which is quite a pity having in mind their previous three efforts. Of course (if) has a few good tracks, far from being excellent, but are easily spotted and memorized. Hopefully, you can find a gem or two, despite my harsh attitude towards the album. Actually I like all of their songs in German, which is another reason not to leave (if) as a blind spot in my mind. When it comes to singing Hates is the last one to let us down, which actually could go without saying, but I should say a few positive things...shouldn't I?

Tracks to hear: "Requiem", "Wahn!sinn?", "Choir Hotel", "Momentum" and "The Saint"

Personal rating: 5 out of 10

Review: Blutengel - Schwarzes Eis

Chris Pohl and company released just a month ago their sixth studio album "Schwarzes Eis" and they have been on a long vacation and decided to record some stuff in the very last moment and to fill the wholes with some older material. At least that is how I wish it had happened, when they started working on their newest project. "Schwarzes Eis" is one of those albums that you can listen for days and still not be able to point out anything favourite out of it. When "Labyrinth" (their previous album) was released many defined it as too accessible and poppy, probably because of its more radio-friendly and club-orientated sound, but in no time it managed to establish itself as one of their most elaborate works. It will take time before the new album prove as worthy material.

"Schwarzes Eis" may be considered as a return to Blutengel's older material in a rather dissatisfying way. Don't expect to be struck by unique originality or to find any conceptual relations between the songs. There are too few dance tracks and the so called ballads are more emotionless than the album title. For some part of the record Chris Pohl is pretty annoying and if you catch yourself changing the track, don't worry...I am pretty sure even he'd do it. Luckily Blutengel keep on singing in German, which actually makes "Schwarzes Eis" bearable. If there was a scale between boring and satisfying, "Schwarzes Eis" would be somewhere in the middle. Mediocre is too harsh to say, nevertheless not too far from the truth. The filling has the biggest portion in the track-list, which extends to the impressive 15 songs.

The album is available in an exclusive limited addition, which actually is a must have! The bonus tracks happen to be a lot better than most of the content in the standard edition. "Schwarzes Eis" fails to be memorable enough in order to make it to the top of Blutengel's releases and there is nothing really impressive or distasteful to be noticed throughout the tracklist. Honestly Chris Pohl has to decide which project is of greatest importance to him as he obviously cannot concentrate long enough in order to bring out a real smash! Fingers crossed for a better Blutengel album next time...otherwise, just don't release it. Bitte!

Songs to hear: "Dancing In the Light", "Kind der Nacht", Dreh dich nicht um", "Pure Life"

Personal rating: 5 out of 10

Stuck in my mind: Herbert Grönemeyer - Mensch

Es gibt Lieder, die ohne Sagen gehen! Ich wollte etwas sehr voll und emotinal zu diesem Lied schreiben aber die Worte fehlten mich, weil die Inhalt mehr als ausreichend ist. Ein Mensch ist Mensch nur wenn er fühlen kann und wir alle brauchen die lebensvolle Unterstüztung der Liebe und die positive Energie der Menschlichkeit.

Es ist okay,
Alles auf dem Weg,
Und es ist Sonnenzeit,
Unbeschwert und frei,
Und der Mensch heißt Mensch,
Weil er vergisst, weil er verdrängt,
Und weil er schwärmt und stellt,
Weil er wärmt, weil er erzählt,
Und weil er lacht, und weil er lebt,
Du fehlst.