Aidan Casserly – Ballads Of Sorrow (Album – ScentAir Records)
Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Irish singer Aidan Casserly has been very busy during the past few years. Next to his involvement with Empire State Human, which released their last album in 2019 and the new project Ferrochrome he set up together with ex-Armageddon Dildos member Dirk Krause, he also released an album together with Kriistal Ann while working on solo-material. “Ballads Of Sorrow” is a work wherein the artist tries to travel through the sorrows of the human condition without giving up and finding an exit.
Content: Aidan Casserly first of all remains a ‘voice’, one of the most special and enigmatic, androgenic voices from this music scene. It’s a timbre of voice you’ll like, or not, but you directly recognize it! The sound properly speaking is driven by good-old Electro-Pop stereotypes and you for sure are going to recognize the wink to Fad Gadget’s “Back To Nature” when listening to “Pins To Close”. But the work has much more to offer, revealing several sensual and evasive passages. I also noticed a few saxophone parts injecting a warming effect to the work. The songs are mainly melodic. I’ll end with the debut song featuring his friend Kriistal Ann singing together on the opening song “World Will Kill”.
+ + + : I’ll never become a huge fan of Aidan Casserly’s timbre of voice, but I have to admit he has a very special voice. That for sure makes the strength of his creation and is the for sure one of the reasons other artists like to work with him. But this album is also a well-crafted work mixing retro Electro-Pop elements carried with great melody lines together with a more contemporary and refreshing approach. It’s interesting to see the way he adds some sensuality in an album dealing with the sorrow of other people. You feel some consolation listening to this album.
– – – : The work features 10 songs, which will accompany you for a voyage of only 36 minutes. There are several cool songs featured, but maybe not a potential hit.
Conclusion: This is an Electro-Pop album that will ravish all fans of the genre; it has something old-school like and yet stimulating.
Best songs: “World Will Kill feat. Kriistal Ann”, “Steal For Love”, “Slip Away”, “The Dead Bell”.
Rate: (7).
Artist: www.facebook.com/aidancasserly
Label: www.scent-air.com / www.facebook.com/ScentairRecords
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