Grausame Töchter – Zyklus (Album – Scanner / Dark Dimensions)
Genre/Influences: Electro-Punk, Industrial-Pop, Cabaret.
Format: Digital, 2CD.
Background/Info: Grausame Töchter, which means ‘Cruel Daughter’ is back unleashing the sixth album in the band’s history. Driven by the enigmatic and eccentric Aranea Peel, this work has been introduced as ‘a dark, dystopic, sexual, sarcastic and grotty look at humanity.’ A pessimistic vision the band prefer to label as ‘joyful pessimism!’
Content: You don’t necessarily have to speak German to understand the provocative themes of this formation. “Zyklus” is as provocative as it is artistic. The music remains a truly free-style of Electro mixed with Industrial-Pop and a Punkish way of singing reminiscent of Nina Hagen. The songs reflect a mature writing process while the sound became an osmosis between all different sources of inspiration. You now get the feeling of discovering the female alter ego of Dive while you next get a pure reincarnation of Punk music into Electro. Sometimes sensual, but often moving on the edge of censor, “Zyklus” reveals a non-stop amount of sonic surprises.
The bonus disc reveals a kind of ‘cabaret burlesque’ style; a more theatrical approach and personal interpretation of German ‘chanson’. It reveals a minimal style, accomplished with classical instruments and creating the illusion to watch a kinky, forbidden performance in a secret underground bar.
+ + + : Grausame Töchter remains a very unique experience because of the image, but also because of the sound. They elevate the art of provocation to a high artistic degree. It’s never a ‘cheap’ thing, but clearly a creative process where image and sound become fully complementary to catch the attention of the heaviest skeptics. I was a skeptical mind right at the beginning of this band’s career, but became progressively convinced by the talent of Grausame Töchter. I hate when artists just focus on a strong image, but I like artists who behind the image still have the skills to compose great music. “Zyklus” is a genius work –one more, somewhat versatile, but always easily recognizable because of Aranea Peel’s unique timbre of voice and theatrical way of singing. And behind the voice also hides an accomplished song writing, which mainly comes thorugh at the Industrial sounding “Sarkastische Katzen”, which is a kind of Dive-song on sex! And I also recommend “Laber Laber” for its Industrial-Punk approach carried by a solid lead.
The bonus disc also reveals a great free-styled Cabaret-music style, which I can imagine together with the band’s image would become a true live sensation!
– – – : The Cabaret-style of the bonus disc will probably not ravish all music lovers and rather sounds as a production for the German market.
Conclusion: If provocation wouldn’t exist, Grausame Töchter would invent it! This music would be the right soundtrack for a forbidden version of the successful series “Babylon Berlin”!
Best songs: “Laber Laber”, “Sarkastische Katzen”, “Wilde Wölfe”, “Fickstück” + “Ich Lass Mir Meinen Körper Schwarz Bepinseln”, “Das Lied Von Den Braunen Inseln”.
Rate: (8 ½).
Artist: www.facebook.com/GrausameToechter
Label: www.darkdimensions.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Dimensions-Label-Group/486014725206
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