Parade Ground – Life (CD Album – VUZ Records / Other Voices Records)
Genre/Influences: EBM, wave-pop.
Background/Info: Belgian brothers Jean-Marc and Pierre Pauly are back on track releasing their first live album ever. The tracklist features a fine selection of some ‘classical’ songs plus 5 new songs taken from their upcoming new album. The songs have been reworked with the help of good-old mate Patrick Codenys (Front 242, Under Viewer, Male Or Female) and were recorded during a gig in Frankfurt (Germany).
Content: “Life” is exactly what you might expect from a live performance; a mix of hits and new material. You don’t really feel there’s an important hiatus of time between some classical songs and the new ones. Parade Ground still has this good-old EBM and wave-pop influence, which together with the timbre of voice, make the particularity of the band.
+ + + : A live album remains an item for the die-hard fans, but it also is an opportunity to get an idea about the spirit a band can create on stage. That’s an aspect that comes through at this work where you’ll notice the interaction between the band and the audience. It also is an opportunity to (re)discover the retro style of Parade Ground characterized by the typical string parts and the EBM touch. Classical songs/hits such as “Gold Rush” and “Strange World”. Among the new songs I especially recommend “Stand”, which appears to be one of the band’s hardest songs ever.
– – – : I’m still convinced there could be more passion in the vocals.
Conclusion: Parade Ground is part of the early EBM story, but the band is still active, creative and successful today.
Best songs: “Stand”, “Gold Rush”, “Strange World”.
Rate: (7).
Artist: www.parade–ground.net / www.facebook.com/Parade–Ground-128962277159973
Labels: http://vuzrecords.de / www.facebook.com/VuzRecords / www.othervoicesrecords.com / www.facebook.com/pages/Other–Voices–Records/196767663702999
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