Powerworld 8/10
Cybersteria Record Label: SPV/Steamhammer
Released: 24 May 2013
Highlight of the album: Slave To The Powerworld Website: http://www.powerworld.org/ Reviewer: Paul Nicholls
I first heard of this album from David Reece as he was originally due to handle the vocal duties on the release, however a very professional decision between Mr Reece and Ilker Ersin (Powerworld founder) saw Mr Reece departing and Michael Bormann stepping up to take over. What a job he has done here, fitting both the style and key of the albums songs and sounding as good as I’ve heard him in recent years not withstanding his current ‘Redrum’ release.
is essential listening if your tastes are broader than simply ‘pink and fluffy’ AOR as this album is most certainly ‘meat’ of the current release banquet. Don’t let the fact that there is a theme to this album put you off , should you wish to. each song is more than powerful enough to stand alone, not needing to lean on each other for support as some themed albums can do.
A release well worth acquiring as ‘Powerworld’ Musically, this album weaves intricate song continue to deliver in their own inimitable style and construction that never leaves your ears with they are continuing to develop. nothing to listen to, in fact this album will offer something new on each play for some considerable time such is the quality of the writing on offer. Loosely an update of Orwell’s 1984, using the power of the internet as is protagonist, Cybersteria
MS MR 9/10
Secondhand Rapture Record Label: Columbia Records
Released: 13 May 2013
Highlight of the album: Salty Sweet Website:
http://www.msmrsounds.com/
Reviewer: Lee Walker
Having stumbled upon the strangely named MS MR after having a video of them sent to me I was somewhat intrigued by what the album would sound like.
brings out the best of Lizzy’s hauntingly poignant vocal style while creating a perfect balance between the two sounds and allowing the songs dark, almost gothic themed, lyrics to shine though.
Being described as ‘Noir-pop’ this New York duo are Overall for a debut album ‘Secondhand Rapture’ creating quite a name for themselves and have ticks all the right boxes and seems set to propel MS recently featured on David Letterman. MR further into the public eye, but with as with a lot of similar artists you will either love or hate them. Comprising of a sound which seamlessly merges the Regardless of your views on them though I think its finer elements from the likes of Siouxsie and the fair to say that you will definitely be hearing a lot Banshees, Florence and the Machine and Sophie more from this band in years to come. Ellis Bextor, MS MR manage to create a sound which stands out from the crowd and separates them from the traditional female fronted artists that are constantly springing up, with their mix of keyboard led dark ambience style music which
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Firebrand Magazine