“Mental Cabaret” was featured on their 2006 EP, and it’s a great song, so I’m glad to see it get a more permanent place in their catalogue. It uses some interesting electronic textures and a driving, almost dance beat that distinguishes it from other songs in their catalogue. There’s still some explosive choral moments, but the tone on the whole is a bit lower, more street level than heavenly.
“Guaranteed Nightlife” is indicative of the more varied song structures the Spree adopted on this album. It opens with a choral proclamation, then moves into an electric guitar backed driving b section before slowing and returning to the original mode. It’s one of the weaker songs on the album, the chipper voices not exactly matching the talk about a guaranteed nightlife. But the dynamic shift between sections makes the song work, it’s one I’m looking forward to hearing live.
“Light to Follow” is the biggest departure from tradition for the band. It’s based on a looped electronic drum beat, and a more subdued feel. The choir whispers “Everyone needs their own light they can follow,” then we move into an almost eerie section with echoes of a woman’s opera style vocals moving through sonic space. It’s strange to hear the Spree do such a soft song, but it works. It’s haunting and powerful, which makes the string backed build near the end of the song all that more effective. The song eventually crescendos to a rock style, guitar soloing climax. I think part of the reason they don’t have any really long songs on this album is that they’ve figured out how to fit a lot more into a concise song.
Judging from the title alone, “Watch Us Explode” should be a perfect Spree song. What makes them unique is how powerful the explosion is, hearing 25 people playing and singing at the same time is an awe inspiring experience, you can hear it on songs like “We Sound Amazed” from Heavy and on their biggest hit “Light and Day.” Of all the songs on this album, this and “Running Away” are probably the most comprehensive in terms of demonstrating what the Spree can do. Countless instruments are buzzing in the background, and it’s fantastic when the choir comes in to back Tim on the chorus.
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