In a daring and dramatic departure from recent albums, "darkwave" veterans black tape for a blue girl return to prominently featuring male vocals on the ethereal gothic-rock outfit's stunningly and despairingly beautiful ninth album, Halo Star. Under the guidance of songwriter/lyricist Sam Rosenthal (who also founded the band's seminal label, Projekt), singer Bret Helm delivers an eerie, mesmerizing performance. Helm is the kind of guy who can sing "Knock three times on your coffin if you want my love" and get away with it. His voice melds Eighties synth-pop with Nineties goth-rock while sounding never less than original.
The songs featuring Helm are often balanced with lush pieces showcasing the evocative vocals of Elysabeth Grant, who sounds even lovelier here – especially on the too-short "Your Love Is Sweeter Than Wine – than on previous black tape outings.
Set these two vocalists with stark contrasts in delivery against a dense sonic backdrop of swirling melodies, tribal rhythms and tendencies that lean toward apocalyptic folk, acoustic industrial and progressive rock (Rosenthal even plays a Moog solo!), and you've got another truly distinct recording from a band that consistently redefines dark music – making it seem as mournful as it is hopeful.
Click here to see information about Black Tape For A Blue Girl's upcoming east coast tour
Track Listing:
1) Glow (1:12)
2) Tarnished (3:23)
3) The Gravediggers (5:36)
4) Your Love Is Sweeter Than Wine (1:48)
5) Indefinable, Yet (3:29)
6) Knock Three Times (3:52)
7) Scarecrow (3:03)
8) Damn Swan! (3:12)
9) Already Forgotten (5:08)
10) The Fourth Footstep (7:14)
11) Dagger (5:50)
12) Halo Star (3:25)
Total Time: 47:17
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
