KieTheVez-- "Non-Binary"

KieTheVez's album "Opium" was one of the first modern synthpop albums I bought in the late 1990s. I bought it because it sounds very much like Depeche Mode, with a cool, dark feel to the vocals and synths.

Ten plus years later KieTheVez is finally back with a new album, and things have changed since the last one. "Non-Binary" gets its name from the fact that KieTheVez is no longer using only synthesizers in their music. It sounds like they're using "real" drums, guitars, etc. It's the synth in synthpop that makes me a fan of the genre, so this change had me worried.

After several weeks of listening to "Non-Binary" my worries have disappeared. It's a very solid album. I highly recommend it to KieTheVez fans, and, because they're using more "mainstream" instruments, I do think this album would appeal to a broader audience than "Opium" did.

There are several standout songs that I could listen to over and over and not get bored. The rest of the songs are solid too. Here's my opinion of the songs:

5/5 stars: One World for the Next (Wow! This is a gorgeous song, best one on the CD.)
4/5 stars: End of a Bright Night, A Million Days, Non Compos Mentis, Always a Boy
3/5 stars: M, Niamh, Three, Be Alone Together, 26
2/5 stars: How Are We Doing Today? (Too slow and sleepy for me.)

Elmodic-- "Monoism"

My decision to buy this CD was based solely on its description on A Different Drum's website. Elmodic was compared to bands like Beborn Beton and De/Vision, and I like those two groups, so I bought Elmodic's CD.

It turned out to be a great purchase for me. Most of Elmodic's songs are upbeat and full of fun, interesting synth. But they're also not afraid to throw in some electric guitar. I usually prefer that my synthpop be "pure," without any guitar, but Elmodic pulls it off extremely well. Two of the best songs on the album feature electric guitar. The singer's voice is deep and sounds great, and I do hear similarities to Beborn Beton and De/Vision.

Here's my opinion of the songs:

5/5 stars: In Touch, C.A.W., Beyond the Horizon
4/5 stars: The Voice of Night, Platinum, Lost Inside, True Affection
3/5 stars: Solitude, Close to You, Shallow Man, Autumn Winds (These are really cool songs, but just a little too repetitive for me.)
2/5 stars: Sotoneu (I can't stand instrumentals)

Elmodic's "Monoism" is very listenable from first song to last (although I do just skip the instrumental Sotoneu). I recommend the album highly, especially to fans of German synthpop.