Belgian art rockers Deus have matured magnificently. Swelling chords weaving in and out of a vast, all-encompassing sea of sound that could easily fill a stadium or three, The Vanishing Of Maria Schneider is a gorgeous, unpretentious masterpiece about eternal youth and beauty.
Featuring Elbow’s Guy Garvey on guest vocals, the song is about the French actress who starred alongside Marlon Brando in the Last Tango In Paris, landmark of erotic film. Tangibly sensual.
It would be fair to say that Black Affair drags
me right back to the 80's, but although the first thought in my mind is Gary Numan,
there's also something distinctly futuristic about latest single Japanese Happening.
Spookily laid back vocals, almost to a chant, wrap this track in a cloak
of darkness so it's no surprise that Black Affair is oft described as Gothic Pop, but we should add Synth in the middle of this description. Stand or run as you wish.
Black Affair, aka Steve Mason, has always been able to turn a phrase or two, and with Japanese Happening he casts his wise and inspiring lyrics, and catches you in his web.
In particular the line Like money can buy you time sticks in my mind
and gives this gothic/pop tune a more serious edge than anything you might find
under ‘Pop’ in any music store or download site.