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Band: LowCityRain
Album: LowCityRain
Release date: 27 September 2013
Label: Prophecy Productions
Tracklisting:
01. You Are Everyone, You Are Everywhere
02. Grey View
03. I Don't Know Myself
04. Numb
05. Phantom
06. Nightshift (ft. Andy Julia)
07. Vulnerable Now
08. You Eyes And The Sea
There's no need to say that influences from 80s have anchored so deep in many styles of modern music that it's difficult to talk about a kind of revival anymore, it surpassed that, instead of that I'll be bold enough to say that we have some new formed genres that are hugely inspired with vibes, nostalgia, simplicity and romanticism of that decade. Each one can sense a huge dose of that in music of modern gothsters, metallers, rockers and so on. There's plenty of that in the LowCityRain's self titled debut album. LowCityRain is a side project by Markus Siegenhort, better known to the metal public from his main band, post-black metallers, Lantlôs. To tell the truth LowCityRain's music is in no connection with Markus's other musical activity as here you won't find any harsh metalic moments at all, but nicely flowing elements of electronic, wave, shoegaze, dreampop and post-punk music. There's a lot for fans of most intimate and chilling moments of godfathers The Cure, Sad Lovers & Giants or Killing Joke, as well as modern era chillwave artists like M83 and Washed Out to name a few.
Everything is done and played by Markus himself, with the exception of session drums which are performed by Felix Wylezik, also responsible for the same thing in Lantlôs. Each song out of eight featured brings a lot of comfort, warmth, it carries you away with dreamy atmospheres and sometimes danceable rhytms. It's like a perfect soundtrack for your most intimate moments while witnessing the fading nature in autumn. LowCityRain is a perfect music when you look through the window and the raindrops are pouring down. It's time to close your eyes and be driven away by those delicious melancholic notes and verses.
Album starts with rather up-beat song "You Are Everyone, You Are Everywhere", where guesting female vocals, performed by Markus's friend Laura add another meaning of ethereal dance music. Sparkly guitars, careful drumming and huge bass lines with 80s post-punk influences are the perfect opener for what's to come. The rest of the album brings much more darkness than someone could expect. "Grey View" has a very special flow, it's full of melancholy, sadness, but at the same time those rather distant Markus's vocals reflect some kind of joy, that is most evident in song "I Don’t Know Myself" or atmospheric "Phantom", where it's like hearing Robert Smith playing the guitar. Then the amazing vintage synths that are often very gloomy and most of the time in the background make songs like "Numb", or synthpop/shoegaze anthem "Vulnerable Now" such exqusite romantic experiences that made me almost cry. Not to speak about the conclusive "Your Eyes And The Sea", with so deep soundscapes that in all its greyness bring forth the ray of hope into this grim world.
The highlight of the album must be evocatine gothy "Nightshift", where vocals are handled by one and only Andy Julia of Soror Dolorosa, and to say the truth the whole atmosphere of this song is pretty near to the last Soror Dolorosa's album. Almost diabolic, post rocking, yet pop/rock scented melodic guitar riffs and spacey synths blend so well with pounding bass lines and drums. It's an instant hit and I believe it will be often played on many obscure dancefloors and radio stations.
LowCityRain's debut album is a perfect sountrack for all nostalgic romantic people out there. Major part of album is very personal and intimate musical journey, it holds a distant, but very emotional touch of elusive power that never becomes a proper reality in the world of LowCityRain. Even the front cover artwork of the album overwhelmes with kind of a fragility and tenderness. I believe that everyone who'll be prapered enough to relax and get confortable with this punch of emotional vibes will experience an outstanding sonic adventure.
Review written by: T.V.
Rating: 8,5/10
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