SIDELINE
THE CHARMING FACTOR
"Blind
Faith and Envy" - The Charming Factor (CD Nilaihah) - -
"The Charming Factor" is the debut from this synthpop duo,
and the sound captured is evident within the phrasing of the
album’s title - charming. While a few dance mixes are
included, Blind Faith and Envy themselves have a rather
serene sound that is more akin to the eighties-era
predecessors than the current synthpop movement. For
example, the woodwind-augmented "Slightest Wave" echoes an
era that had figureheads like Depeche Mode, but with a few
modern hooks that don't let the listener forget the modern
futurepop movement. In fact, Depeche Mode’s venerable
Clarke-era "Shout" is covered, thought it feels more like an
update with female vocals than a total revision. The opener,
"Golden Glass" also bears this influence, but with some
trip-hop languor spicing up its sultry beat. "Stand Me
Relentless" is perhaps the most modern moment here; building
from a light bass beat, it deftly strips and integrates keys
and electronic structures, and ends in a pleasant ballad
denouement. As far the remixes are concerned, two are quite
excellent. Both Blank and Null Device completely rework the
rather mellow "Crowded Room" into an entirely different
animal. While Blank add stark EBM by way of heavy bass
bludgeoning and stiletto synthesizer strikes, Null Device
spelunk deeply into the world of goa trance with a haze of
rhythm and the blissfully subtle addition of world beat
drumming.
(VM:6 TSF:7/8) Vlad M.