VALESA - CHAPTER I: VELVET PRISON

I was pretty impressed with this band's 2017 release "Blackbox" but even more impressed with their live album from earlier this year called "A Night At The Library". On the heels of that live record the band releases studio album number five called "Valesa-Chapter !: Velvet Prison". Quite a change in musical direction with this one as they head straight into 80's Synth/Pop but with some Disco and Rock thrown in. The backdrop for this album is the 80's as they go into the politics of that decade. Jon Ivar the singer says this about this record "Synth anthems set in a disco of nuclear anxiety."

There are a ton of guests helping out including a female vocalist who has an almost squeeky high voice which contrasts with Jon Ivar's rich and powerful singing. I always put a check mark beside a song I really like and circle it if it's really amazing but I also put an "x" beside a song if I really don't like it. So a few check marks on this one but several "x" marks too. I can't get past the plastic. Synths dominate this and there's also a keyboard percussion instrument that I lament. Now it's not all like this as we get some tracks without all the 80's and Disco sounds but I can't get past the prejudice I have towards Disco being a teenager when it was popular and detesting it at the time.

I know some Avant bands who've implemented some of these Disco sounds to great acclaim but not from me, it's just too much to get past. I loved that they added "Jonah" to this record, a track introduced on the "A Night At The Library" album. It's a little different here plus they actually talk about Jonah a few tracks before on "Live Forever" which is so cool. "Behind The Next Door" is such a good track and I have to mention "MOMA" which is CARDIACS-101. Like a tribute to them because this is supposed to be set in the 80's?

I'm not going to say much more but 3 stars is all I got. Jon Ivar is one of those vocalists that is the price of admission. Just so impressed by him but as far as the music goes just not my scene for the most part.