Principe Valiente – Oceans ‘Deluxe’ (CD Album – Aenaos Records)
Genre/Influences: New-wave, gothic, goth-rock, indie-rock.
Background/Info: “Oceans” is the third full length album released by the Stockholm-based Principe Valiente. The opus has been also released as vinyl format by Manic Depression Records. The original edit has been released in 2017 and now re-released as a ‘Deluxe’-edition featuring the entire tracklist plus the remixes, which were only available as download. The artwork has been re-edited as well.
Content: “Oceans” feels a bit like bringing the good-old new-wave spirit back to life. Some of the guitar parts remind me of The Cure (“The Head On The Door”-period), but I also can mention Killing Joke for the harder cuts. But Principe Valiente also add a very own touch and more contemporary approach, which I think might appeal to fans of Placebo. Frontman and singer Fernando Honorato also has a very typical-, kind of deep timbre of voice, which is totally fitting with the dark and evasive style of the music. A few female vocals can be noticed as well.
The album features 8 songs plus 4 remixes by Mister Monell, Big city Bright Light and New Canyons (2 remixes). The last song is a live piano version of “When I Learned To Crawl”.
+ + + : Principe Valiente stands for the reincarnation of new-wave music. You can still hear the 80s spirit hanging over the songs while there also is a more personal and contemporary element. The elevating guitar playing is one of the main strengths from this work. But it’s more than simply a great guitarist and talented singer; there’s a great songwriting and global production emerging from this work. That’s why you’ll discover many noticeable songs. There also is a great progression in the structure of the songs. Among the remixes I especially want to recommend the remix of “Strangers In the Night” by Mister Monell.
– – – : My only single regret about this album is that there are only 8 songs. I would like to have got more tracks because this work sounds great. I think it could have been cool for this ‘Deluxe’-edit to get at least one exclusive ‘new’ song.
Conclusion: “Oceans” sounds like a modern new-wave production. But the most important thing is not how you would define this album; it simply is a great piece of music composed by a band, which deserves more recognition!
Best songs: “Untouchable”, “Strangers In The Night”, “When I Learned To Crawl”, “No Time”.
Rate: (8).
Artist: https://principevaliente.com / www.facebook.com/principesweden
Label: https://shop.af-music.com
Since you’re here …
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading Side-Line Magazine than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can - and we refuse to add annoying advertising. So you can see why we need to ask for your help.
Side-Line’s independent journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we want to push the artists we like and who are equally fighting to survive.
If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as 5 US$, you can support Side-Line Magazine – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.
The donations are safely powered by Paypal.
