POCKET REVOLUTION

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).