POCKET REVOLUTION

After a three year programmed break to pursue other projects of just enjoying life, dEUS came back with this album with a fairly revamped line-up. But if this fact is to scare you a bit on top of the "iffy" title, please be reassured that you will find the usual dEUS sound (no real revolution in their musical horizons anyway), but it will not be a carbon copy either. Of the historical members, only leader Barman and collab Janzoons remain but the sound does remain true to their previous album - most of the ex-members pop up for guest appearances anyway. If my review of their third album and put the point across than dEUS was getting a bit more uniform in their songwriting, there is not that much to dispel this fact on this album as the tracks succeed to each other without raising so much as an eyebrow. dEUS is one of those intelligent alternative rock, inventive enough to have warranted one of the owner to include them on the Archives, and let's face it , on the basis of the first two albums, this is justified. Their later two full albums (so far) is more objectionable, especially now that they have their trademark sound.

I am not sure if progheads are aware of this group, but they should know that they are good cross of Britpop with a will to advance into ambiances and changes throughout the course of their songs a bit like Muse do, but this is not really up to Radiohead standards either. With Real sugar and Sun Ra, dEUS manage to come out a bit out of their routine, to give some added flavour for progheads, but this comes a bit too late for the album to warrant more than its third star. Not essential for progheads but fully essential for dEUSheads.

dEUS production is rather scarce. This is their fourth studio album during an eleven years period. Of course, their leader has other projects going on but a dEUS album is always expected with lots of enthusiasm (in Belgium).

The opening number of this album is one of their best number ever IMO. Of course, it might be due to its deep inspiration into the "Echo & The Bunnymen" style which I have enjoyed now for almost thirty years. The melancholic but raw rock sound is really infectious. Delicious building up song, and three last minutes of anthology. A great song, indeed.

The next very good one is "Start Stop Nature". A chorus à la "Placebo", killing background guitar and Barman's dark voice are three great ingredients for this typical dEUS rock song. And this pattern is also the mould for the energetic and straight forward "If You Don't Get What You Want". Efficient, powerful. So far, the relation with prog is very, very thin. An ocean of good rock music, that's for sure. "Cold Sun Of Circumstance" is an additional example.

This album is not extremely varied but still pleasant to listen to. Not often easy to categorize, their music needs several spins to really get to you. One needs some times to penetrate dEUS work. At times minimalist (the title track), the music proposed on this album is less eccentric than on prior works. Less "avant-garde". Less "prog related". And therefore probably not intended for prog ears (hence the very few reviews for this album, or band in general available through PA).

The groovy "The Real Sugar" breaks this global rock feeling, and "Sun Ra" is probably the song which is the most in-line with their previous works. Especially the mighty intro with some violent sax play. The second half though is back to the rocking mood of this "Pocket Revolution". Another very good track.

Like "Muse" or "Placebo", "dEUS" is closing this album with a very quiet song. "Nothing Really Ends" is on the relaxing side. To cool down probably.

There are a couple of excellent tracks here but the monotonous atmosphere prevents me to get higher than three stars. Which means a good album (and forget about the non-essential stuff).

dEUS are little known outside Belgium so their pages here are a sure way to find fellow countrymen. I even suspect Belgium must have 'someone on the inside' or 'on the board' of PA. I mean, there are little reasons to associate dEUS with classic prog so some serious lobbying must have been needed to add them here. And good they have been, because they are a wonderful band.

dEUS are an exceptional alternative rock band with a very eclectic sound borrowing from a wide range of influences, from guitar rock, folk and punk to jazz, kraut and art rock. Depending on your background you may find one song reminds you of Sonic Youth, another of Velvet Underground or David Bowie, Tom Waits or Velvet Underground. To add a reference to a more recent band, I could add Dredg to the list, but with a less pathetic type of voice.

Generally, I find this album drenched with the spirit and influence from kraut rock. Especially Can comes to mind. By the time of Pocket Revolution, dEUS had shed off some of their earlier excesses and concentrated on the songs instead. To good effect.

To single out a few songs I would of course need to start with Bad Timing. This 7 minute track is an outstanding crescendo that might certainly appeal to space rock fans. It's effect is entrancing and deeply moving to say the least. What We Talk About has a similar vibe to it.

Up-tempo rockers like Stop-Start Nature, If You Don't Get What You Want and Nightshopping should convince Muse fans that with more restrained singing, other bands are better at doing what they do.

And outstanding melancholic ballads like Include Me Out, The Real Sugar or the beginning of the title track before it turns into an ecstatic gospel, should sure appeal to everybody liking the introspective and gentle moments of Porcupine Tree or recent Anekdoten. Damn! Nothing Really Ends even has xylophone!

dEUS have always embraced experimentation in their sound so the tag art rock would suit them quite well. If you feel like stretching your wings outside symphonic progland for a change, and if you like diverse albums that are still coherent even though not one song resembles another, then this album comes highly recommend. If you can't find the album I'll be glad to help you.