Område is a French duo-band formed in June 2014 and composes music with a mixture of many dark styles like: ambient, post industrial, post rock, electronica, and even with Black Metal/Metal influences. The combo released their first opus “Edari” on April 13th of the year 2015 that includes 8 tracks. We were lucky to bump into this exceptional album a while ago and we will share our review below.
This newly released LP takes you on a long ambivalent journey through the many realms of post-rock, with the compliment of both ambience and turbulence. This album can be listened to in the very depths of your despair or at the uttermost peaks of your joy, regardless of the atmosphere of the occasion. Omrade’s Edari consists of an eight-song sequence that can complement the musical preferences of various audiences. In spite of the great musical composition, the poor quality of sound may possibly set the listeners off on the wrong foot. Regardless, the wide variety of emotions felt throughout the duration of this LP truly makes it stand out and lure in audiences of different emotional capacities, whether they would like to rock and roll, bump in the background, or feel happy and sad all at once.
Omrade’s schizophrenic layering of black metal, post-rock/metal, ambient electronica, industrial, and trip-hop styles results in overwhelming song structures and focuses on simple riffs and atmospheres that deliver songs rather than creating trippy soundscapes. Artistic and surrealist sensibility, a great, dark, and psychotic menu expressed in this project.
Here is the track-by-track review:
- Motsogn (5:10):
Driven by brooding drums, ominous ambience, and atmospheric guitar work, the first track surprisingly chills to the bone. It’s essentially something that could fit in nicely on an ambient album.
- Mann Forelder (5:22):
This track functions in the same uplifting vein as “Motsogn”, but the song introduces the band’s emphasis on ambience this time around. The thrilling rhythm section and soaring textures pave the way here. It makes for a truly warm feeling inside and the touching guitar tone that closes out the song is a homely touch. In addition to quiet electronic drumming and various noises, strings and piano are the dominant presence. It’s a song that requires a fair amount of patience to appreciate, pure Epic Music.
- Luxurious Agony (5:25):
An excellent job of maintaining a singular contemplative mood while employing different elements in songs to make them distinctive, the modulated heartbeat-like sound is juxtaposed perfectly against the calming, yet cinematic background noise. The song makes further use of the simple piano by placing it in the background and giving it some reverb at the end of the track, making it one of the standouts.
- Satellite And Narrow (6:08):
The first change is the greatly increased use of vocals and drums, which shifts the balance away from the ambient leanings of previous songs towards a more energetic, dream pop sound, undoubtedly the most successful track, taking the basic structure and twisting it to get a masterpiece.
- Aben Dor (5:27):
The increased presence of vocals means that lyrics play a much larger part; the duo largely contented themselves with vague, poetic vignettes that were entirely open to interpretation, just like listening to a black metal track.
- Friendly Herpes (5:21):
The moody and atmospheric chill of “Friendly Herpes” keeps me coming back to its hypnotic builds and desperate Pain-like vocals. This track transitions perfectly into dark-ambient and the result is the perfect structure.
- Skam Parfyme (6:31):
Opens with some celestial vibes and angelic female backing vox before it goes up the hostility and the pace.
- Ottaa Sen (6:10):
Memorable in approach, emotional vocal style entwining with the cold spoken-word passages of the song, and the latter is an evocative mix of electronica and post-rock, the last track and the last heartbeat, angelic, from within, and…
Review Summary:
Not overly experimental, Omrade focuses on songs and keeps it fresh throughout its more than 45-minute length. Their simple take on the avant-garde results in greater accessibility, with an approachability that has the potential for accessing a fanbase that only mildly dabbles in the genre. Good music, good artwork, and good production make this a winner in my book. It’s difficult for me to admit that anyone else can do this as well. However, there is much to love here and I will continue to come back to Omrade’s debut for its straightforwardness, variety, and easy digestibility. So, if you’re ready to submit to the dark and moody, … you are welcome.
Omrade lineup:
Jean-Philippe Ouamer: Drums and electronics
Christophe Denhez: Guitar and vocals
Mixed and mastered by: Edgar Chevalier
Artwork by: Seldon Hunt
I give it 9/10 , simply perfect.
– Maurice Semaan & Dany Ayash
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