SYNTHPOP.NET - Jason Baker
This is the
sophomore album for Blind Faith & Envy, released in 2006
independently. The band has left the Nilaihah Records roster
and struck out on their own for this album, which finds the
band adding in new elements to their sound while refining
previously established elements from "The Charming Factor".
This album finds BF&E moving away from a synthpop focus, and
bringing in a touch of Trip-Hop and Darkwave into the band's
sound. While the tracks don't all have the pop focus that
was present on the first album, there are still some very
catchy tracks here that will grab your attention, such as
"The Smallest Rewards". The chorus on this track is really
solid, and while it's pretty dance-friendly in it's album
form, I hear a lot of potential for a dance remix as well.
"Orchid" is a very impressive mid-tempo track, with a very
solid, emotional chorus. "Secret Affair" is somewhat similar
to "The Smallest Rewards", in that it seems to have a lot of
dancefloor potential to me. "Water And Land" and "Murder Of
A Girl" both bring the tempo back down, and take a darker
turn, with sadness and longing pouring through every note of
the songs.
I really like this darker turn that BF&E has taken. It gives
the music a depth and seriousness that wasn't there on "The
Charming Factor" that I think works really well for BF&E.
"Murder Of A Girl" is a very good new beginning for the
band, and I really think that this new direction for them
will yield excellent results.