Solar Fake - Broken Grid

Sven Friedrich has done it again. A side project of the vocalist for Zeraphine and Dreadful Shadows. Sven Friedrich is holding Solar Fake's debut album, Broken Grid, to the same standards as the rest of his music, but in a very different way.

The sound is very light and melodic, with beats that are easy to move to, while maintaining a darkness that only Sven's voice and occasionally brutal vocals can bring. It isn't brooding, and yet the music presents a deeper feeling of power one cannot quite put a finger on. Definitely a change from what has come to be expected of the Electro scene, and in a good way.

Some of the tracks really present themselves, but the album maintains a similar sound throughout that straddles the line between unique and monotonous. The opening track, Hiding Memories From the Sun, is sure to get you moving and begging for more, and Sven's deliberately simple yet powerful vocals are sure to hook you. The following track, Stigmata Rain, starts off much the same, and progresses to show us his brutal side in the chorus, with intense, almost angry vocals and a stark contrast to sound. The change is very sudden, but a welcome treat. Track five, a cover of Radiohead's Creep, has been done before, but Solar Fake takes it to a whole new level. I Keep my Eyes Shut, track 7, boasts heavily-synthesized vocals that are very original and diversified from the rest of the tracks.

All in all, Broken Grid is a treat for anyone who is a fan of Zeraphine or Dreadful Shadows, and with its strong vocals and energetic beats, even first time listeners are sure to enjoy this album. Jun 10 2009