Somehow they seem able to pull people in like moths to a flame. The publicity material ends by saying that with this album, ‘they left their Lovebites on our necks.’ When you hear the words to the title track you see where they are coming from. As it unfolds through its sinister night vibe they create a hauntingly dangerous atmosphere.
The album is expertly produced by Ireland’s own Rob Kirwan who has worked with U2 on the Pop album, Alabama 3, Captain, The Magic Numbers, Erasure and Dépêche Mode amongst a host of others.
Ibadet’s vocals are never better than on the exceptional closer “Revolution.” On this extraordinary track the band creates a haunting labyrinth of sounds bringing a powerful visual imagery to the end of the album. The delightful interlude that is “River Song” paves its way giving the end of the album a tangible power that quickly makes you want to relive the experience again.
‘Every honey bee is an angel of death,’ and ‘in every flower’s bloom there’s a skull that is winking’ are lines that strike from the heart of “Spring (The Old Pretender).” Another addictive diversion is created within the catchy “We Will Never Drown.” “When The Rain Comes Down” shows their skill at creating atmosphere that you can cut with a knife.
The cloying sadness of “Rosebud” is lifted by the uptempo “Fortuneteller.” A majestic “Second In Line” arrives with swooping, grandiose symphonic color, and a deep theme enriched with the flavor of the east. Their desire to be complex is certainly fulfilled on this richly intense offering. “Drive Too Fast” follows as if to wake you from your dreamlike trance.
This is an album that may require several plays to fully appreciate some of the intricacy it contains. Persevere and it becomes easy to see why word of Super700 has begun to spread far beyond the Berlin scene.
They are arty, they are cool, intelligent, complex, and effective. In Ibadet Ramadani they have a mesmerizing talent. Having said that, this is not a one person band and they clearly share a quality of musicianship, desire, passion, and a powerful collective imagination.
It has gone straight onto my rather eclectic Ipod. But whether I will be able to play “Revolution” in the dark remains to be seen.
Have a look and a listen by visiting the Super700 Myspace Page.
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