Condensery
A nicely cohesive, very deep instrumental (mostly) record, introspective but with some well-done pop elements, too. Reviewing here in real-time as I listen...a little Peter Gabriel and New Order influence, Dead Can Dance even. Kraftwerk is one of my favorite bands ever, and some of their cleanness and melodic simplicity is what I like here, too.
Perhaps the "Ladine by Lakeside" title is a riff on "Stella by Starlight", a la John Lurie's "Bella by Barlight"...
"Van Ess" is refreshing with its grittier sounds. And the processed vocal sound is terrific, very hard to place at first. A very cool texture.
So nice having those live drums come in on track 9, damn! Though I could be wrong and they're fake drums, played by a real drummer. Nice, regardless. I dig the lazy background guitar figure too, behind the twisty lead. One of my favorites. Ah, and vocals! Interesting, the delivery reminds me a bit of the late Mark Sandman, of Morphine. Who I love. I'd like to hear more of that (and of Douglas opening up and really giving it the gusto too..)
There's a real shift from front to back over the 11 songs, getting earthier and a bit more dangerous towards the end (which is my more favoriter stuff). It draws one in, this is one of those nice recordings that seems to pass quickly and rewards repeated listens. Great cover too!