Welcome to the Crystal Palace: Your minions return to its roots and still sound refreshingly different

Nearly four years after the acclaimed predecessor "Indicator" to report your minions that can be referred to as a legend of music history now quite, back with their new work "Crystal Palace". While "Indicator" could still convince with a wide range of instruments and many political texts, is "Crystal Palace" on the electronic board and leads the duo consisting of Alexander Veljanov and Ernst Horn, back to his roots.

In order to understand these roots, we need to take a journey through time to the early nineties. Full today formative masterpieces like "Forest Enter Exit" A decade - in "Crystal Palace" you can so to speak identify the siblings Album of said plant. Although the lackeys reflect here on the early days of their band history, they are also experimenting with new influences, ideas and elements, which makes "Crystal Palace" all the more exciting. So you might think, a fully electronic album would act cool especially - "Crystal Palace" proves the opposite. In this sense, the new album of the gentlemen Veljanov and Horn surprised with a good deal of warmth and accessibility, which can be attributed to both the comfortable voice Veljanov and the largely created by Ernst Horn compositions.

Already at the beginning of the album, the concept of the perfect opener is redefined - "Nevermore" proves to be the very first moment as painful earwig, which will accompany the listener not only the next few weeks. Especially the incredibly melodic chorus leaves a cringe, especially as the melancholic tunes of the ingredients to customize the text anyway desperate admirably. With "Farewell" follows in the next place immediately another highlight - a hammer for the dance floor, which surpasses all limits with its thumping beats and his elegiac chorus. "Farewell" is a song that could be expected of your lackeys exactly, yet it provides some surprising moments. Melancholic it comes with "Forever and a Day", a very quiet and minimalist piece, continue. The song can be called rightfully an absolute gem of the album! In every single second to appear before the mind's eye pictures, and in my opinion is "Forever and a Day" the perfect soundtrack to imagine the vastness of the universe with all its blackness and the occasional starlight. In just over four minutes here a true masterpiece is celebrated!

After "The Ride" a little momentum and impetus in bringing the tracklist without turn out to be the strongest song on the album, followed by "Where the wind do not blow," a song that already from the first single, "Farewell" is known. Despite its continuous electronic arrangements it sees the song, conjure up even folky sounding moments - especially when Veljanov as always exposes beguiling song and leaves room for instrumental soundscapes. Even "Where the wind do not blow" is a highlight of "Crystal Palace", but it already was possible to yes after the release of the single set. The title track "Crystal Palace" includes many musical elements like the longtime fan seem a bit unusual at first glance. That's why the song has incredible potential and will grow with each round! A song that has earned its status as title track definitely, but it turns out experimentally accessible and at the same time. For me one of the biggest surprises of the complete works!

The following "Why the Stars" is what both the lyrics and music in terms of the well-chaotic, because most progressive song on the album. While the lyrics tell from the perspective of a seemingly confused protagonist who perceives his environment from a very "own" point of view, especially the chorus is on the artistic potential of the band. After about half of the songs of pounding chorus is replaced by a badly rutted instrumental part of what the whimsical character of the lyrics perfectly underlines. The madness, literally!
"The Lights of our street", however, is again a very Reclaimed, tasteful piece from the pen of Alexander Veljanov. With his warm voice he accompanies the listener through a beautiful piece, which his whole atmosphere certainly can develop not only at night listening.

Ninth convinced "Those Hills" with driving rhythms and catchy qualities while "Eternal Sun", the last piece of the standard CD, for absolute goose bumps atmosphere makes. The finale in the form of "Eternal Sun" can be referred to easily as perfect ending, is here but one of the most epic and most graceful moments of lackeys history. The bonus tracks need before their counterparts of the standard CD not to hide: "The Swan Song" with its melodic character hard to beat and thus certainly one of the best tracks on "Crystal Palace". Even the final end in the form of "Pilgrim" euphoria with his social criticism and delicate sounds, only the intervening "Portuguese Trails" falls by its monotony a little off.

The visual and tactile component of "Crystal Palace" is in no way too short! So the criticism of many fans on limited box set is completely unfounded, as this comes in a sophisticated black metal box with a number of other goodies. For an absolutely fair price of inclined buyer receives not only the magical metal, but also the album in digipak version with bonus tracks, a pretty key chain, a considerable black bag, which is provided with the writing of the album, and on top of it two postcards of the band. The enclosed certificate with the personal number - there are, after all, in 1000 box sets - is of course not to forget. Would Boxset been more expensive, I could understand the criticism of some fans so, but I think the price of the merchandise contained for moderate and reasonable. In particular, the box is in the showcase or shelf a feast for the eyes!

Overall, it is here but of course not primarily concerned with the visual feast, but on the much more important Ohrenschmaus on. In a nutshell: Your minions deliver with "Crystal Palace" one of their strongest albums to date, if not the peak of their creative powers from. Of course, quite clearly, the new plant is reminiscent of the earlier works of your lackeys, but it contains just in songs like "Crystal Palace" novel, very creative elements out of the now but very seasoned band of fresh air. I think that both long-time fans and new listeners will get their money as soon as they carry "Crystal Palace" in their CD player - this album contains everything you need for your minions, and can also come up at many levels with moments of surprise! Melancholic, dark and with the usual dash of melancholy, the duo Veljanov / Horn lurches through thirteen consistently strong songs that do not require a stopgap. Very great art!