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Strange Pop - Ghost in the Old Tape CD (album) cover

GHOST IN THE OLD TAPE

Strange Pop

 

Crossover Prog

3.38 | 7 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

alainPP like
3 stars "In the Garden" in electro mode, mid-tempo, synths in front with an acoustic guitar pounding out its notes, a sound that directly looks at the 80s atmosphere like 'Subway' with the heavy bass. We move forward calmly with Mike with his captivating, languid voice; the hushed outro on VANGELIS synths. "Dempsey and Makepeace" his obvious 80s; between new wave and the synths used in Z-series films like John CARPENTER, who has become a reference. The chorus is danceable, on DEPECHE MODE, I give leads, or OMD; in short the ghosts of the old tracks have an effect. "Old Mansions" electro, hip hop, ethereal, indie, an ambient synthetic sound with progressive, addictive notes, a touch spatial, cinematic, twisting in the room. A minimalist piano and the electronic hum for this simple but devilishly effective instrumental. 'In Your Eyes (School Love)' is a groovy track based on Sean's funky-sexy vocals and bass for the sober nursery rhyme, in the radio edit tradition, yes, but that of the 80s.

'The Longest Night' with electro keyboards reminiscent of ULTRAVOX, a focused atmosphere; a minimalist, laid- back vibe reminiscent of the work of JAPAN, the reminiscences are flowing. Cloudy choirs à la 10CC, a nostalgic atmosphere, the solemn synth solo taking the lead, captivating before drifting into psychedelic tinkering. The beautiful finale with a distant Gregorian choir, ERA for me. Time contracts for these diffuse and persistent memories. 'VHS Ninja' with its muffled, dark, strange atmosphere, a cartoon turtle? The electronic pad slams, leaving the keyboard notes reverberating, a fitting resemblance to a track on GENESIS's 'Duke'. The spatial, contemplative atmosphere, the talking synth on this second instrumental reminiscent of those of suspense master John CARPENTER. 'Halley's Comet' as an interlude or film finale, the crystalline, metallic, foreshadowing, and divinatory keyboard sound. 'Requiem for My Childhood' is a case in point; the long, ethereal, icy, and gentle piece, ambient and prophetic, about a vanished world, and a slow crescendo creating a dreamlike vintage atmosphere; the keyboard reminiscent of those used on MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND. The outro, two-thirds of the way through the planned breakup, resembles a (re)awakening, and the fade-out, like a subliminal message, on the fifth album.

STRANGE POP releases a tribute to the '80s, resisting cold digital with its warm and organic analog sound. An easy- listening album without much pretension that makes you dream and revisit our world of yesterday, yet interesting today. Originally released on Profilprog.

alainPP | 3/5 |

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