SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – DARK NOUVEAU

Various Artists
Dark Nouveau
Metropolis Records

Since 1993, Metropolis Records (based in Philadelphia) has kept the 1980’s dark, electronic music scene alive and quite well. Over the years they have signed bands and released some very influential and brilliant music. Dark Nouveau is a new compilation that serves as a sampler of sorts for the label and their current artists. This rather dark, electronica album is dedicated to Scott Walker, an influence for most of these bands, if only through other bands they admire (i.e. David Bowie, Bauhaus).

There is a lot on this album, 24 tracks and artists, and some are better than others, but it does provide an excellent overview of the current electronica music scene. There are clear highlights, including the dark and moody Hante (“Silence The Voices”), Shadow Age (“In Snow”) and Twin Tribes (“Shadows”). While other songs are good, they drift into the ‘derivative’ stream. For example, Balvanera (“Compression (The Absent)”) sounds like a very dark Book Of Love.

There is plenty on this album for all electronic enthusiasts. It is a great collection of artists, some of which you may not be familiar with. That is the point, it may make you want to research more of the artists and delve deeper into their catalogue. The artists represent many different genres within the electronica theme, it is really an electronic album.

Fans of the 1980s and electronica will enjoy this sweeping view of some of the current artists keeping the flame lit in the darkness.

Metropolis Records Links