Enzo Kreft – XL (Album – Enzo Kreft Music)
Genre/Influences: Cold-Wave, Electro-Wave, EBM.
Format: Digital, Vinyl.
Background/Info: “XL” is a fine selection of ten songs taken from the three last albums (cf. “Control”, “Different World” and “Shelter”) from Belgian DIY-artist Enzo Kreft (aka Eric Vandamme).
Content: This work brings nothing new although a kind of ‘best of’-tracks from the last full lengths by the Belgian Cold-Wave artist. The vintage sound treatments and especially the strings remind me of Gary Numan. But “XL” also features a few harder and even pure EBM pieces. This is a moody but always danceable Electro with the half sung half spoken vocals of Eric Vandamme on top.
+ + + : If you never heard of Enzo Kreft -which would be a shame, this album is a great opportunity to discover the artist’s work from the past few years. His global approach in sound and production hasn’t really changed over the years; he remains faithful to the 80s electro sound driven by analog sound treatments. The strings running through the songs have this early 80s magic -which will please Gary Numan fans. “XL” reveals numerous great pieces from the artist and it’s even hard to give you a favorite one. We get an impressive list of brilliant and accomplished pieces instead. I however would dare to tip “Disobedient” for its danceable Electro-Wave, “Viral Paranoia” which is good-old EBM reminding me of the bass line of DAF, “Duck And Cover” for its anguished side and “Woke Up This Morning” for its overwhelming, dark, sphere. A last word I want to say is the engaged lyrical themes of the artist which are also quite poetic and sung in an impressive half spoken way.
– – – : I sometimes regret the tracks aren’t just a bit longer.
Conclusion: Enzo Kreft at his best! This artist deserves a wider recognition for his great talent to bring 80s Electro-Wave music alive with a refreshing touch.
Best songs: “Disobedient”, “Viral Paranoia”, “Duck And Cover”, “Woke Up This Morning”, “Biometrics”, “It’s Going On And On”, “Blood Diamonds”.
Rate: 9.
Artist: www.facebook.com/enzo.kreft
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