Buy This CD at Darkcell Digital Music
Dream Disciples
Asphyxia
~reviewed by Blu
Don't you know the Dream Disciples? No? Not yet. You must be from the USA. Seems as though we Americans are missing out. Something big has been brewing over there, for ten long years. I'll pass the secret onto you, promise. Just read.
Hmm... perhaps a history lesson first, cause I did my homework:
"Utopia came in
black tonight..." - "Room 57"
In Mick Mercer's
Hex Files: the goth bible published way back in 1996, he says the UK's
Dream Disciples are "one of the hardest working bands around." Indeed,
by their track record, it appears so having played all over Europe including
the UK, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
They've released 5 CDs (plus 3 promo versions), and have just completed
their sixth - Asphyxia. Ten years and counting they're still in the
game -- I could tell you that they played this past April at the
Whitby festival and that they are booked to play this coming August 4th
at the Eurorock festival in Belgium. I could also mention, that whilst
scanning club and radio playlists from Europe, like I often do, there's
hardly one that doesn't include a track by The Dream Disciples.
The Uninitiated
So I admit, I was
in the dark too you see. (Damn ocean keeping all that good music away from
us and all.) Then one day I get a letter, out of the blue, from Mel
- Scary Lady Sarah's other half, and he says, to me... say Blu, the Dream
Disciples have a new CD out and you really must check it out. Which is
very odd, cause Mel has never had cause to write me before. I say ok, file
the link somewhere and tackle the next crisis at StarVox central. Then
I get an email from some one named Col <winkwink> who says, I'm with
the Dream Disciples, check us out. Again, book mark the link. I then get
a third email from Mike (Hidden Sanctuary) who says, Blu, you MUST check
out Dream Disciples! I'm beginning to think its a conspiracy. So
finally, I stop what I'm doing, and I go download the mp3s. My chin drops.
Really. This is so good. This is soooooooooo good, I keep thinking. For
months I've been bitching and complaining, " I want a REAL band who plays
REAL instruments and REALLY sings... " blah blah boo hoo... and here they
were, for ten years, just across the pond.
"Welcome to the
Show"
So sit back, and
get aquatinted if you haven't. I daresay if you're a U.S. DJ, if you hop
on this now, you'll be leading the invasion if the play lists in Europe
are any indication of the crowd response this band gets (see below for
the obscene and growing list of clubs playing their new tracks).
Their newest CD Asphyxia is full of so many wonderful songs that I hardly know where to start - all different , all with their own unique appeal. Their first single, and the song I see appearing on most European playlists is "Room 57." (You can download it here off mp3 right now!) Its hard to explain my feelings for this song - it produces quite an assortment. Its starts off aggressively - almost industrial, with a driving drumbeat that makes you want to dance immediately ( I tested this song last weekend on a EBM/Synth pop crowd and they danced their asses off to it. Perhaps I can trick them into liking a real guitar band!). You get sucked in, you start moving with the beats, head bopping as it builds, and then the guitars come in and Col sings, "We drove for miles and miles just to get here..." his voice breaking up near the end, teeth clinched, emphasizing the stress of their long journey, and then softer, sings, "the four of us, against the world again..." and in that one simple phrase, so much emotion welled up inside that it almost makes you cry. That line will always get to me. And maybe I connect too much to those feelings, of struggling so hard for so many years for something you believe in that you're on the verge of giving up, yet you have this group of supportive friends who've seen you through it all... and I know where he's coming from. There's dissonance in the chords up til that point, then another change takes place, the song changes key as they launch into the chorus and there's resolution. There's this huge bridge into a feeling of "triumph" -- "Yesterday, seems far away, Just staring out with vacant eyes, We all fall down." Col's voice is incredible on this track, sometimes near a whisper, other times belting out the chorus with all he's got. Come to think of it, fans of the U.S. band Psychotica might be interested as I find Col's raspy vocal qualities MUCH like Pat Briggs.
"Velvethead" is yummy treat - hard hitting and dramatic, its currently my "getting ready to go out" song. There's a mischievous element of reckless abandon in his voice when Col sings, "Heartstopping, pill popping, she'll be dead by 21 and I don't mind." Extremely sexy and seductive in tone that rides on a purring bass line; this is sure to be another favorite at fast paced underground clubs.
Changing tone and style yet again, the song "Cobalt (blue)" is more Britt-pop in flavor and a very delightful sing-along song. On most mornings, you can catch me driving to work singing, "when you realize that we are slaves to this utopia, its drowning me, its alright, its alright, we all die. Sometimes when I'm feeling down I see you, and your eyes are still shinning cobalt blue."
"Antidote" is another danceable track with a middle eastern edge thrown in for a lovely, mysterious effect in contrast to the harder guitar lines. Then, switching gears *completely*, "The Enemy" is fast song with a chorus of blurring percussion and guitar assaults similar to thrash metal in aggression and bpms. "o.p.s." takes on a pop/rock edge, "this could be the lovesong that I never wrote for you..." (think Placebo or Oasis); while "Librium" is a haunting instrumental that fades into a contemplative mood of "Babylon." Not ones to disappoint, Dream Disciples finish up the CD with "The Misery Whip" and my oh my, if the subconscious heavy breathing and moans don't get to you underneath that pulsating bass line, I don't know what will... (or is that just wishful thinking on my part?)
Truly a band who's paid their dues, Dream Disciples have produced a CD that is charming and professional all the way around from their musical talent and emotional content to lyrical maturity. I'm wagering a bet right here and now, this CD will top some of our "Top 10" lists at the end of the year on StarVox. The boys are planning a U.S. tour at some point and I'll be there in line just to sing along...
Track Listing
velvethead
cobalt (blue)
room 57
antidote
the enemy
o.p.s.
black widow
librium
babylon
the misery whip
Dream Disciples is:
Sid Bratley (Guitar)
Col Lowing (Vocals)
Karl North (Bass)
Gordon Young (Guitar)