SIDELINE - European
version
Blind Faith And Envy - The Charming Factor (cd Infacted Recordings)
Just like The Azoic, BFAE has been licensed to Infacted
Recordings for the European market. This album contains
exactly the same songs and tracklist as the album on
Nilaihah Records, so there’s no bonus for the young fans of
the band. I’m not considering myself as a die-hard fan, but
the sound of BFAE deeply impressed me! Their music has been
for sure influenced by the 80s electro-pop movement and it’s
probably not a coincidence if they made a cover version of
Depeche Mode’s “Shout”. It’s for sure one of the single
songs, which didn’t really impress me more than that! The
best way to discover the potential of BFAE is to pay some
attention for one of their absolute masterpieces entitled
“Slightest wave”. This is an incredible cut full of
outstanding arrangements and some great 80s spirit, which
comes to recover to whole track. BFAE composes compelling
and original structures, which are much more than inspired
by the 80s. They possess a kind of singular way of writing
while the vocal performance of Charlene April is hot hot
hot! This girl has a natural sensual way of singing, which
is now and than combined by some sad moods. The “Major
philosopher”-song is an excellent illustration of this
duality between sensuality and melancholia. A next essential
element of this band is the power of the rhythmic. We’re not
very used to hear synth-pop bands experimenting with complex
drum patterns, but there’s an overwhelming wave of power
emerging from the rhythmic! In a harder and definitely
danceable way, the “When I know you’re gone”-song contains a
carrying chorus and real cool bass line. I think there’s a
lot to say about this debut-opus, which is according to me
more than successful. It’s just that it will be not easy,
dealing with such a popular style of music to break through!
Anyway, this band gets my total support!
Posted by: Cedric