One might think that I would be a gloomy person. Well, at least sometimes. You just hang around…wait, what? This introduction already exists? Damn! You put in so much effort to piece together something from old reviews...uhh, to write something new and then this! Alright, I guess I really have to put some effort into writing instead of just building meaningful sentences from various word fragments…
Anyone from the time in Germany when about 95% of all people in the East grew up under camera lenses or listening devices might just fall into nostalgia at this moment. “Die Art” have been playing a mix of dark wave and punk rock since 1986. In 2001, they split up, but managed to reunite in 2007. With “Fliehende Stürme,” they belong to some of the very old representatives of the so-called “Depro-Punkrock.”
The storms are mentioned here for a reason, as it definitely makes sense to mention both bands together while still referring to various differences (just like my failed copying attempt at the beginning of this review).
Both combos definitely share a poetic ability that is secure in its lyrics. The melancholy people manage to find the right words and place them in the right spots, giving the songs their own (melancholic) impact. A clear plus point that also aligns with the following commonality: the atmosphere. Despite various differences (which I will come to shortly), the atmosphere remains the same: loneliness, coldness, longing, and that “strange uneasy feeling in the stomach area.” The voice adds to this, which doesn’t sound “dark” in the conventional sense but still knows how to create a dragging and oppressive environment. Yes, it already sounds very good!
Anyone who has never really connected with dark wave might be surprised by both the voice and the use of instruments. Especially the guitar is quite surprising, as it is rarely distorted and is often played “clean.” First unusual point. Another point is that no deep tones are used, but rather “medium” to “high” ones. Here, only the bass provides the dark undertones. At this point, I also really wonder how the band manages to achieve a dark sound under these conditions. There seems to be real magic at play.
Songs like “Schlaflied” or “Folgen” invite you to soar. You can either lie comfortably in the bathtub and relax or sit somewhere else and ponder about yourself and the world. Although they are the same songs, they create the most diverse emotional worlds in various situations that are hard to describe. I also realize at this point how difficult it is for me to put this unique “sound of the band” into words.
Special attention is deserved by the title track “Alles was dein Herz begehrt.” This track has become one of my favorite songs and would have a fixed place on a “Best of ChaosZx2 – Collection!” CD. Rarely has a song grabbed me so intensely, even though I initially thought it was impossible. Incredible!!
“Die Art” have a healthy mix of German and English lyrics on their album, which can also be read in their band history. While they initially focused more on English songs, over time, more and more German-language songs have been incorporated. With “Live-Lines,” “All my dead flowers,” and “Paradise,” the four people from the East show that they are also proficient in another language. The latter song reveals to the lucky owner of this CD that they do not shy away from using synthesizers. Sounds good, even if it makes me think a bit of “UFOs”...
Unfortunately, “Die Art” also make a small mistake. Whether it is now “in” in the dark wave scene to press only 10 songs onto the silver disc is debatable. However, one must not overlook that the disc does not end up being too short. The song “Ist (7 Tage)” may have a proud runtime of 6:45 minutes, but the others stick to between three to four minutes. It’s logical that the enjoyment unfortunately diminishes after a short time… but at least you are grandly entertained until then!
Yes, one could really think that I would be a gloomy person. Because I just love this whole mix of dark wave and punk rock! “Die Art” do a truly magnificent job in terms of quality and atmosphere and know how to convey negative emotional states through instruments. That’s not something you achieve often. If you are willing to forgive the short runtime, you really can’t go wrong with “Alles was dein Herz begehrt.”
Although “Fliehende Stürme” hold a firm No. 1 spot in my heart when it comes to melancholy, “Die Art” closely follow behind with their record.
Whoever enjoys this kind of music (Haha, get it? ART!!) should definitely give this album a close listen. Closer than the temptation to constantly recycle sentences to sneak them into my reviews.
