First time I've been inspired to write a review for an SEB album in a long time - plenty to discuss, let's dive in!
01 ACE - BRAND NEW WORLD (SCP) [03:56]
We start this album with a real bang as one of the most recognisable and loved male vocalists shares with us a "Brand New World". To be frank, that's kind of misselling this track since this is pretty much SCP as we've always known and loved them. And not just that, but they've really found a sweet groove for incredibly catchy synth hooks - okay, this one probably takes a lot of inspiration from "Power Of My Love" (thanks for helping me figure that out para_rigby), but that doesn't detract from the pure, high-paced energy that screams from the speakers everytime that insanely moreish hook hits. Ace himself is sounding like he's on really good form as well, sounding more youthful in this track than in certain previous ones of late, which is great to hear considering all of the young blood at SCP now. The vocal melodic traits in this track are what raise it above the standard - the brooding and slightly menacing nature of the bridge builds up the tension perfectly for the chorus with its fast-changing progressive chord changes and its rise-and-fall melody. And then, when you expect things to end - BOOM! The bridge refrain is back layered with a counter-melody as a sort-of second chorus that compliments the progressive nature of the chord changes perfectly. I commend SCP on their excellent song-writing, as this is definitely an example of strong themes teamed with perfect production. During the final "second chorus", when the chord progression is slowed down, I couldn't help but smile. Just a perfect ending to a perfect track. Thank you Ace and SCP!!
Score: 10/10
02 MANUEL - TIGER (Go-Go's Music) [04:41]
Manuel has always been my number one male vocalist, and the intro of this track along with the video he posted of him recording the vocals are the best evidence of why I love the guy! He's just on the right side of the sane/crazy spectrum, and you never really know just how mental he is going to perform when you listen to a new track for the first time. After the slightly comedic and (it must be said) camp intro, we get treated by one of the most distinctive GGM productions I've heard in a while. To be honest, since they moved to SCP's studios, I've been feeling that the unique GGM "spunk" that dominated the whole of the SEB world in the late 180s/190s had been somewhat missing. But not here - the synth hook, teamed with the powerful guitars and of course Manuels distinctive operatic vocals all mesh into one glorious eargasm that just makes you want to smack the replay button again and again and again! Manuel really has a keen ear for a strong and unique melody - you can hear the sometime familiar chord patterns used, but in the next breath the melody will often flip in an unexpected yet welcome direction that results in a real feast for the listener. The chorus is of course where this song hits its real climax for me with the "woooooooooaaaaaaahhhh tiiiiiiigeeeeerrr!!" really getting the blood pumping as if it wasn't already speeding through my veins. However, I will say that I think certain phrases are a little difficult to make out due to the BPM and the number of syllables that Manuel struggles to fit sometimes. But despite that, this is still a glorious return to the GGM I used to love - long may it continue!
Score: 9.75/10
03 PAMSY - DON'T KEEP YOUR LOVE AWAY (SCP) [04:23]
And talking about truly finding your groove again, here we have my glorious Pamsy! Ever since she returned to the series, I have been delighted at the exposure she has once again been given, and now that SCP have finally found a song that not only highlights her beautiful, vulnerable vocal tones but also combines it with the dreamy trance layers that she made her own through the 160s, 170s and 180s. I can't describe how happy it makes me to hear those rich arps being used again, and the even the transitional effects that tie each section of this track together add that little sprinkle of magic dust that made me fall in love with Pamsy in the first place. The chorus of this track is a perfect example of commercial influences merging with the modren Eurobeat sound - think, if you can, of Cascada singing the chorus in particular at one of her concerts, and I'll bet that it isn't too hard to imagine. I would not hesitate to introduce my friends who may have more mainstream musical tastes to this track as I believe that it - much like many of Pamsy's songs in the past - could act as the perfect introduction to the genre for Eurobeat virgins. The breakdown in the repetition of the verse towards the end of the song when the beat completely drops out was nice to hear - SCP should be a bit more adventurous with these middle sections more often, as there's so much they could do to just bring out a completely new aspect of the track. Without a doubt, this is Pamsy's best song since she returned to the series, and while it's no So Fragile 2.0, it gives me hope that one day I will eventually hear that.
Score: 10/10
04 DAVE RODGERS - NEW RACE GAME (SunFire) [04:20]
This one is interesting, as I am always a little wary of Dave's tracks since he moved over to the SunFire name since most of the tracks have always lacked the raw energy and passion that made his productions at A-Beat C so appealing. However, from the moment the beat drops here, it's clear that he's on to something with this track. The hook has a bit more of a trance feel to it (it brings to mind the hook from Pamsy's recent track "Give A New Go" which is no bad thing in my eyes). And even when the vocals come in - an area where I've often felt SunFire tracks lack a certain richness, this one holds my attention. Dave sounds confident, like he really believes in the song that he's singing, which is an important thing to do for someone of his stature in the Eurobeat world. Now, don't get me wrong - every time I hear this song, I long to hear it produced with the A-Beat C synths and percussion of old, so I'm definitely not a SunFire convert yet, but every now and then there is one track that seems to truly stand out from the crowd of often banal and watery tracks that the label spews out and on this album it's "New Race Game". I also adore the middle section where the beat completely drops out - that haunting synth used works beautifully in progressing this song on to a higher level. Much better work from Mr Rodgers, showing that there's most certainly life in the old dog yet...
Score: 8.75/10
05 CHERRY - UNFORGETTABLE (Delta) [04:54]
Dramatic piano intro alert!! For some reason, with the spoken phrases during this intro, I think of Madonna around her Vogue era. I've always thought of Clara Moroni as Eurobeat's answer to Madonna anyway, so I guess it's no surprise I get that impression. But what I can't get over hear is how much this sounds like a Eurovision song - seriously, from the vocal melody to the often bizarre lyrics ("Wanna smoke a million cigarettes" - erm, pardon?) everything about this song screams the cheesy side of Eurovision to me. For those that don't watch Eurovision or know of my love for the contest, you should know that this comparison isn't a diss from me - I adore Eurovision and all of its eccentricities. Sadly, I feel that this track doesn't quite seem to have that one killer hook that it needs to stand above the pack. It would be an appealing filler while you're waiting for something slightly more spectacular to come along. And considering the incredibly strong start to this album, it's no surprise that this song comes off sounding just a little flat for me. It's a shame, since I do at least admire the production team and writers from at least making the effort to stray away from the Capaldi-by-numbers Delta of recent years, but for me I don't feel that this track will stand the test of time very well - it already sounds quite dated, so I can only imagine what it'll sound like at the end of the year. Not forgettable, but sadly just a little too regular for me.
Score: 7.75/10
06 REMY PANTHER - HOT LIKE A FIRE (Hi-NRG Attack) [05:17]
Right, let's give this new male HRG vocalist another go, shall we? I'll be honest that I don't really get it yet - he sounds like he needs to work a bit more on his diction and pronunciation until he has mastered a sound that sits well with the Hi-NRG Attack production as at the moment he still sounds a bit too green around the edges. In terms of this song, I was surprised by the synth hook as it really sounded like a unique experiment for the HRG team. Despite that, when the vocals kick in, we're back to the HRG we all know and love - how many random generic phrases can we throw together in one song? And of course, we need to have the fire/desire/liar/power(??) battle in the chorus. Bless them - it's never going to win any songwriting awards, but to be honest I think they realise that and in a way, it makes these tracks all the more endearing as they have become such an integral part of the SEB listening experience. But in all seriousness, this track falls to have a strong enough identity to help it stand apart from the hundreds of similar tracks that the label has written and produced over the years. They do still know how to do a mean breakdown though - that's something I'll never get tired of hearing
Score: 7/10
07 CASANOVA - CRAZY LOVE (Platinum Version) (SinclaireStyle) [05:33]
Wow, I thought during the intro we were transported back to the 80's SAW sound for a second. It's soooo retro! This song overall sounds like a minimalist update of a very early days SEB track which has tried very hard to avoid losing the classic identity of the song despite the updated percussion and synths in the main hook. The vocal melody is like a song that Taco or Rick Astley would have rocked way back when perms were cool and neon leg warmers were popular for the first time around! One major issue that I have with this song is that it sounds far too dragged out - this is a clear example of when a 4 minute SEB edit wouldn't have impacted the song quality whatsoever. By the time that the breakdown comes around at the 3:50 mark, I was already thinking "oh, this is still going on huh?" which is a shame, as I don't think it's an inherently bad song, it just starts to get a little repetitive when you're hearing the chorus repeat for about the tenth time! Kudos for bringing a retro track back to life in this way - and thank god there are some better ones than the god-awful 10,000 Lovers from 201 *shudder* - but think very carefully about how much might be too much when it comes to ressurecting the sounds for modern Eurobeat ears. Soundwise, this wasn't bad, but in terms of length - time to get the editing software out!
Score: 7.5/10
08 CIAO CIAO - WHEREVER FOREVER (Hi-NRG Attack) [05:10]
Hmmm, let's see, what intro structure/effect have we not used in a while? I KNOW - the underwater warped vocal distortions! Hang on, but didn't we just use that quite recent in that recent smash-hit "Fire Desire Liar on the Wire"? Ummmmmmm, nooooooo.... Sorry, just thought I'd share a little of what I would imagine the conversation went like during the composition stage of this track. Sarcasm was completely intentional! I get annoyed now when a song like this comes around for a very recognisable alias in the Hi-NRG Attack stable (not that I'm saying the HRG vocalists are horses...) - and the main reason for my annoyance is because I know what they are truly capable of if they take a risk and think outside of the box. In Ciao Ciao's case, I'll always be comparing every future song she released to the glorious "The Magic Of Sunshine" - a song that succeeded in smashing the modern Hi-NRG Attack with the classic Italo sound in a glorious genre-defining moment for Hi-NRG Attack. This track, while vaguely catchy in places, has just been done to hell and back for years by HRG, and I don't hear anything particularly appealing or unique in the melodies or production that makes me want to listen to it again. Such a shame - bring back Italo HRG!!!
Score: 6/10
09 POWERFUL T. - BLACK SHADOW (SunFire) [04:02]
Super ugly bass sounds aside, this one seems to continue along with the theme started by "New Race Game". What do you mean you forget the theme? Pay attention people! Basically, SunFire on this album are saying "check us out - we can still write melodies that you used to cream over, but now that we have all this new amazing equipment that makes our productions sound like a 10 year old threw it together, your face will always end up looking a little sad when you listen to our songs. Here, have a tissue..." I'm blethering a little - the point I'm trying to make here is that while other labels have continually made efforts to step forward and evolve the sound of Eurobeat, SunFire have completely jumped off at a sideways tangent that basically results in their tracks sounding like those amateur karaoke-style covers that you sometimes see on iTunes of big future mainstream hits recorded by faceless individuals that never quite sound as good as the actual song. I know what A-Beat C have done in the past, and I sadly know that the label is dead and gone - what I cannot accept is that Dave especially believes that this new sound is an improvement on what he built before. It's not - and I just can't help but long for us to go back. Powerful T also sounds like he's singing with a tennis ball in his mouth for a lot of this song... but that's another story for another day...
Score: 6.5/10
10 LUKE - POWER AND GLORY (Delta) [05:10]
Awww, yaaayyy!! I'm sorry for the fanboy squeal, but I do have such a crush on Luke. I adore his tone and this track really highlights his strengths as a vocalist. It has more of a traditional Delta sound, but thankfully doesn't use the horrible cut-n-paste intros from previous tracks, but the real hit for me hear is that vocal melody and the way the production backs this up beautifully in every way. The chorus (which as a side-note makes me think of the Mans Zelmerlow hit "Hope & Glory" from Melodifestivalen a few years back - YouTube it, it's awesome!) is just a gloriously flamboyant anthemic delight that has a real 80s kick to it. The way the guitar plays with the synths in this production, particularly during the middle section around 02:50, is also another major highlight for me in this track. Seriously, how unbelieveably awesome is that little interlude? I could listen to a loop of that for hours! This is the Delta that I really love - just enough swagger and spunk but never too much that it overpowers the true star of every successful composition... the melodies! Melody is king, and they have really struck the perfect chord for me here. Can't wait for the next Luke track now!
Score: 9.5/10
11 ROBERTA - HEY YOU! (SinclaireStyle) [05:07]
The intro of this song sounds like a song that I wrote way back when I was about 13 or 14 - ZOMG SS have plaigiarised my work, I must sue!! Haha, of course not - that song only exists in the confines of my brain. Now this track has a few personality disorders. The percussion and bass for a start seem a bit too sharp and harsh for my liking - it puts me on edge when they kick in. However, setting that aside, I adore the heart and soul that the melodies possess hear as it takes all of the best elements of 80s music and melds it into a uniquely Eurobeat package. Sinclaire seems to found a bit of extra spunk for this track - Roberta tracks of old have sometimes sounded a little weak and watery. But this one really shows of a far more feisty Roberta who is primed and determined to get exactly what she wants and desires regardless of the casualties along the way! I also have to say that I adore the outro on this track as it brings the whole composition full circle and really serves as the perfect ending for a pretty exciting trip that shows us that 80s/90s inspired melodies and stylings don't always have to sound dated and old-hat. I kind of wish that the Casanova track was given a similar level of spunk as I think it could definitely have benefited from it.
Score: 8.5/10
12 DREAM FIGHTERS - THE DAY OF THE RAIN (Dima Music) [04:57]
How the mighty have fallen, huh? Sorry Dima if you read this, but I just don't know whether your spark has dulled a little or something - recent Dima productions haven't ever really reached the heights of the comeback tracks of the 190's and 200's. Now, that may be a personal preference, but when I see many other people having a similar opinion, I start to wonder if something is missing at the grass roots. I have given this track a good few listens now, and to be honest the only sections that truly grip me are the extensions at the end of each chorus section that accompanies the rising chord progression (that's a beautifully constructed melodic section). I also have a real soft spot for the bridge which sounds a bit more like the Dima that I know and love. So I know that there is still the potential for some amazing future compositions to come out of the woodwork, and I will forever live in hope that we will witness another masterpiece like "King Of The World" or "Somebody to Love". For now, I believe that this song will probably have the most growth potential of all the songs on this album, so I look forward to hearing how much I can love this in the future, but for now it's still a little below my expectations.
Score: 8/10
13 ULTRAVIOLET - BOOM BOOM BOOM (Dima Music) [04:53]
I've never been a massive fan of this alias to be honest. It's always sounded a bit surplus to requirements really - I've much preferred pretty much every other Dima alias (except Toy - once again, sorry David if you're reading!) Ultraviolet to me has always sounded like Dima's attempt at presenting a more mainstream SCP alias that tries to bridge the gap between mainstream dance styles and Eurobeat. Unfortunately, she's never really been given a song that has let her truly shine. This one suffers from too many cliches for me - the "woah-woah-woah yeahs" and the "I wanna do it, yes I wanna do it" during the bridge just sounds a bit too childish somehow. Bizarre I know when you have the likes of Hi-NRG Attack on the same album roster, but I stand by that comment - I just feel that this song doesn't really have a true identity. It's almost as if it was written for a completely different vocalist or even genre and then no-one else recorded it so Dima went "here Ultraviolet, sing this and we'll shove it on SEB 229". I know that might sound harsh, but again, I feel that Dima can do so much better than this and I also feel that if you're going to try and take SCP on at their own game, you're going to need to bring out the BIG GUNS in terms of composition and production flair. This does neither.
Score: 7/10
14 FASTWAY - DANCING OUT OF DANGER (SCP) [04:06]
Wow, wow, WOW!!! That intro! The guitar from the very start sets the scene perfectly for this barrage of testosterone like only Fastway can bring, and I adore it! But what is this... the rapid descending scale of hits before the most aggressive SCP hook I've heard in a while blows the speakers. This is truly another level stuff. Fastway can often be crticised for being all balls and not enough true heart and soul, but this production and composition has so much power and style that the listener is immediately transported into another world. No-one does hooks like SCP in the modern-day Eurobeat world - that's a fact, and I bless them for all the success they've had and where they've reached. The vocal melody in this track, much like Manuel's song seems to take more dips and turns than a rollercoaster, which makes for a very exhilirating listening experience, and I adore the progressive nature of the verse, the anticipation of the transitional bridge and then into the highly melodic and energy-filled chorus. "Baby, we burn like hell!" - that's a fair summary of the feeling I get in my chest when I hear this. I played it in my car the other day on the motorway and before I knew it I was up to 90mph (the speed limit is 70mph) - seriously, this song is a danger to your health. But d'ya know what?? I LOVE IT!!!
Score: 10/10
15 TORA & DEJO - FOR THE FANS (SinclaireStyle) [05:47]
Fan dedicated tracks can go one of two ways normally - they can either be a complete revelation and a unique snapshot of a certain moment in Eurobeat history (for example, SEB 4U) or they can be just a bit too soppy, a bit too sickly sweet, and can leave me feeling incredibly awkward because I should love it but sadly cannot bring myself to listen to it! So what category does this song fall in to - complete revelation or sickly sweet awkwardness? Well, to be honest, I don't think with such a twee synth hook as what we have here that we could ever call this a revelation. It's the sound that I despise the most out of all of the synths that Sinclaire uses - I always think it sounds a bit like an annoying drunk wasp! That aside, the job that Tora in particular does with the vocals is the one thing that has me hesitating from completely writing off this track completely. The verse is just beautiful - well, by verse I mean the first verse - seriously, what the heck is up with the second verse? Is that an android Tora trying to take over?? Very odd! The chorus is fairly generic - nothing that thrilling - and then we're back to that awful synth hook... ugh, this is definitely a "miss"... and then Dejo goes and sings "you guys are invincible" and my heart melts just a little again. Soooo conflicted! Put it this way, this is far from Sinclaire's best recent track, and it's far from the best fan-dedicated track... but in a way, I still want to embrace this, albeit in small doses!
Score: 8/10
Top 3:
Ace - Brand New World
Fastway - Dancing Out Of Danger
Pamsy - Don't Keep Your Love Away
HM:
Manuel - Tiger (seriously - how is this not in my top 3?? That's how insanely good my top 3 are!)
Bottom 3:
Ciao Ciao - Wherever Forever
Powerful T. - Black Shadow
Ultraviolet - Boom Boom Boom