Renard – Waking up In A Different World (Album – Metropolis Records)
Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop.
Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.
Background/Info: Markus Reinhardt will be forever linked with Wolfsheim. After the band’s split we didn’t hear that much from Reinhardt who finally resurrected as Renard. This is the first chapter from a new project on which Markus Reinhardt joined hands together with different singers. Joseh, Marietta Fafouti, Pascal Finkenauer (Jaw), Sarah Blackwood (Client), Marian Gold (Alphaville) and Elisa Hizcox (Royalchord) have been his guests.
Content: Soundwise you’ll rapidly recognize typical arrangements reminding you of Wolfsheim, but the album also is the beginning of a new adventure. And this sound remains for sure Electro-Pop driven, but it also has something Indie-like. Electronics and guitar playing are complementary, becoming melodic and sometimes reminding me of the universe of Moby. But Renard is for sure more melancholic although some of the singers inject a delicious, sensual touch to the composition. Joseh and Marian Gold each sang on 2 tracks. The last song is an instrumental.
+ + + : We first of all have to welcome the comeback of Markus Reinhardt. But more than a comeback, this is a true resurrection of great Electro-Pop made in Germany. It’s not really comparable, it has something unique. That’s maybe why some songs remind me of the genius of Moby like the outstanding “Hotel” featuring Marian Gold. The music is accomplished, revealing brilliant sound treatments and empowered by judicious guitar playing. But the contribution and input of the vocalists is also part of this successful work. I already mentioned Marian Gold who probably never sang on a better song than on the legendary Alphaville hits. But there’s also something to say about the passion injected in “Restless” by Marietta Fafouti and the sensuality emerging from “Eliza Hiscox” and “My Heart’s Still Shaking”. I also have to mention Sarah Blakwood singing on the sad sounding “Heresy”. The opening cut “The Meissen Figurine ” featuring Joseh will for sure remind you of Wolfsheim.
– – – : I can’t see real minus points about this work, but the final track “Intelligent Design”, which also is an instrumental edit, is a rather disappointing end of a great work.
Conclusion: Markus Reinhardt hasn’t lost his genius to write a very unique kind of Electro/Wave-Pop music and this Renard’s debut is a refreshing release in the world of Electro-Pop music.
Best songs: “Hotel”, “My Heart’s Still Shaking”, “The Meissen Figurine”, “Travel In Time”, “Damn Happy”.
Rate: (8½).
Artist: www.renard-official.com / www.facebook.com/renardofficial2020
Label: www.metropolis-records.com / www.facebook.com/MetropolisRecords
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