Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 03/11/2003
Don't be fooled by
Lacrimosa's
goth rock reputation -- after all, how many
goth bands would open an album with a 13-minute
orchestral overture? Not many. But while it is a bold move, it proves that this long-running Swiss duo (and its audience) is utterly confident in its own vision, which transcends genre conventions. Aside from said opener (the entirely
orchestral/
choral "Kyrie"), the rest of the album successfully marries
rock elements with symphonic instrumentation and manages to remain varied and interesting to the end. Mastermind
Tilo Wolff and his partner,
Anne Nurmi, use subtlety rather than bombast (a regular pitfall for
goth bands) to deliver their soaring, emotional epics like the elegant,
Cocteau Twins-esque "Apart" (the only track to feature lead vocals by
Nurmi) and the delightful
"Malina" (sung by
Wolff), which combines a pulsing
hard rock backbeat with ornate harpsichord arpeggios. Meanwhile, occasional
electronic drum programming gives the record a modern edge that offsets its
Baroque leanings. One criticism:
Nurmi should be given more leads!
~Andy Hinds, All Music Guide
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