Poesie Noire - Sense of Purpose

I wasn't expecting this. Although I can not pose to be an Old School EBM know-it-all, or even know the slightest bit about Darkwave, I have a huge respect for the genres, and a modest knowledge. Despite having never heard an album by Poésie Noire before, I also know that this is one hell of a comeback, being the first Poésie Noire album in nearly 20 years. This means that you lucky readers get the privilege of knowing exactly how this sounds, without the earlier genius to offer a comparative bias.

I will start by making it a known fact that I absolutely adore Belgian electro, it just has a sound and feel to it that you can't really get anywhere else (especially if you're trying to make an old-school sound). This release opens with a track entitled "The Air", and generally, unless you are Front 242, I don't usually get captivated by the first track on a traditional old school electro release. At least not 20 seconds in. This is a nice, melodic, pleasant tune, and it's always nice to have female vocals in this style of music. I'm actually writing this with a headache, mainly because I just smacked my head into my desk in absolute disbelief that I have somehow failed to hear Poésie Noire previously. Well done Nick. You utter tool.

"Hangman" is pretty good too, and has just a little more than a faint echo of Front 242's classic "Headhunter". Albeit it, far more poppy, and less abrasive, but enough of a reminder to raise a smile to the lips of even the hardest electro goth". If I ever use that term again, shoot me. Despite being the 3rd track, "Eureka" is an immediate candidate for best track on the release, with clever lyrics and fantastic vocal melodies.

Please do not for one moment expect this to be a poppy, electro-lite style album. Despite the misleading title, "We'll Die Dancing" is a very dark and very dark lyrical track. I do not feel the need to go into a track-by-track with this release. The other 6 tracks are dance floor fillers, and Poésie Noire carries a wonderful air of "Gorgeous but Sinister" rhythms, lyrics, and concepts. Kind of like that girl you date that becomes a stalker when you break up.

Can't compare to the earlier releases, but based on this one alone, I'm delighted that Poésie Noire are back on the scene, at least for a short while. Dec 13 2010