dEUS - Vantage Point

 

dEUS are not known for their mainstream sound. Yet, with their fifth album, the sassy anthemic Vantage Point, they move confidently into the indie/rock lane, racing alongside the current chart toppers with a fast paced stormer of a record.

There are echoes of Coldplay and Fun Lovin’ Criminals here instead of their usual nods to Captain Beefheart, however the latter influence is not wholly dissipated and instead reverberates in the background, playing amongst the cleverly constructed, and occasionally contrapuntal grooves. Vantage Point has a slightly antiquated feel, generally in the spaciousness of the mix and more specifically in the use of gruff guitar riffs and big strings, alluding back to the 90s à la Ocean Colour Scene.

Vantage Point opens with the atmospheric and sexy When She Comes Down, with lead singer Tom Barman almost rapping in the verses and complimented by wonderfully simplistic guitar riffs, that continue to be a feature throughout the album. The song slips effortlessly into a huge, stadium rock-esque chorus punctuated by 80s synth sounds, twisting and turning in and out of genres with such skill that the listener is unfazed by what a weird journey we're on.

Oh Your God follows, which with its agressive and relentless guitar riff and Barman’s angry vocals mirrors the tumultuous sound of Rage Against the Machine. That is until we get to the once again anthemic chorus which floats way above the mad rush of the verses with lulling triplet rhythms and aahs in the backing vocals.

Track three, Eternal Woman – the first single from Vantage Point, drops down a gear and captures the mysticism of love. Hauntingly beautiful string and Rhodes parts, and the gentle female vocals in the chorus give this track an ethereal atmosphere, and contrast wonderfully with Barman’s growling vocals.

This is an eclectic album and as such sets itself far apart from other current indie/rock records. It’s a brave move to have such a disparate array of material and influences on one album, but Vantage Point communicates such a vicious confidence through its guitar hooks and punchy vocals that it pushes and pulls you quite happily through a plethora of genres.

The Architect is a prime example, mixing drum, synth and guitar parts into one big riff, a sonic Frankenstein coming to life. Yet in essence the song is incredibly simple, and it's one of the best on the album. Backing into the mainstream from a more alternative genre has allowed dEUS to show off a little, adopting simplicity because it works, not because it’s the only thing that they can play (I won’t point fingers!).

Simplicity at its finest comes in the shape of Smokers Reflect. The direct words of the chorus you should be doing this/with somebody you love, are universally personal and delivered with a vulnerability not often heard in Barman’s voice. That, coupled with delicate piano chords makes this one of the album’s gems.

But keeping things simple isn’t as easy as it seems, and consequently the album is not without its misses. Is a Robot falls off the radar as the repetitive guitar riff becomes monotonous instead of evoking the raw energy of other tracks. The Vanishing of Marie Schneider promises so much with its intriguing title, yet doesn’t quite deliver. Still, there is some inexplicable magic at work in Barman’s voice that saves even the weaker tracks from mediocrity.

Trying out life in the mainstream should prove to be a good ride for dEUS, as the slick and speedy Vantage Point has all the right components to make it fly off the shelves or into iPods. There's a wealth of influences and momentum here that lift it way above the common place and mark it out as a potential classic.

Hannah Masters-Waage

Get Vantage Point from Play.com or iTunes

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