ALBUM
REVIEWS
E-lux
By: Dave Lloyd
Ok, I'm gonna review this album
again. I've not done that with any album before, but I feel like I need to
update my review. If you've looked round this site, you'll probably come to
the conclusion that, amongst other things, I like this band. And you'd not
be wrong. As a result, probably any review is going to be favourable, and
this is no exception. This time though, I want to try and put across a flavour
of why this album is just so damn good. As I write this, days before Xmas
'97, I've been listening to this album for about 9 months. it will be released
in the UK in February next year, and is just gonna explode. One of the reasons
is obvious. The press are going to focus on Aimee.
Another reason is that they've done something a lot of other bands have forgotten
about doing. They've toured the UK hard. Two tours in 2 months before the
album is released. They've built an interest the old fashioned way, through
the power of the live performance, and being available to people afterwards.
Another reason however, that this album is going to do so well, is the sheer
quality and vibrancy of the music. In an age where there is a lot of GOOD
stuff, albeit sometimes one dimensional, this album and band are not afraid
to mix things up. There are songs, songs, songs, topped off by performance
which is so full of energy it's unreal. There's heavy, uptempo in your face
music, such as Powerstrip, Disease and Drugstore. There's the more dream laden
sounds of Electra. There's the sheer energy rush of Slide, Dog and Get With
It. Each song is different. A statement which should be so terrifyingly obvious,
but with many bands, is anything but. Most of these are gonna be classics
in the eyes of many people by the end of next year.
And throughout everything, there's an underlying message, at least as far
as I'm concerned. The lyrics would appear to deal with specific instances
and events, but if you look past that, what comes across is that hey, sometimes
life will fuck you up, in whatever way, BUT, you come through it. That's a
part of life, and there is so much to see and explore. Yes, there are angry,
bitter lyrics, but if there's one moment that defines this album for me, then
it's the very last moment of the album. At the end of the final track, Get
With It, Aimee lets go a little giggle which turns into a laugh. After all
the emotion that the album deals with, you still get that giggle. Just like
life, after all the trouble you can go through, it can still make you laugh
and smile.
You can apply these lyrics and the general feeling to your own life, something
I've not been able to do with many other bands lyrics. Normally they just
exist for the purpose of singing badly in the shower or at a gig. Maybe it's
just me not being able to make a connection, but this time I can, albeit on
my terms and reflecting my life. This album I think will be a soundtrack for
many people's reflections on aspects of their life, but in a positive uplifting
way.
Ok, that doesn't tell you much about how the music sounds. It's heavy, light,
dark, melodic, powerful. Songs mix up styles and twists. Aimee varies vocals
during songs. The bass rumbles, and mixes with the drums to create something
which is more than just the rhythm to the song. Take a listen to when the
solo takes part in Disease to see what I mean. The bass and drums don't just
fill the background, they become the song.
Like I said, it's going to be huge in 1998. That combination, music, lyrics,
personality and zest will make it one of the most played albums of the year
for many people. Just like it has this year for me. And still, I'm not fed
up with it. I should be, but I'm not. This album has a longevity that I've
not encountered in many years. Truly my album of 1997, and it will take some
beating in 1998.