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Rating: First of all, I would like to thank my "colleague" reviewer gigi sabani for bringing to my attention Deine Lakaien, a precious suggestion that did not leave me indifferent and that I delved into, thus discovering a world of great history, capability, and depth, unfortunately but obviously unknown outside the homeland's borders and the narrow gothic circle. Alexander Veljanov, a Macedonian-born frontman with a warm and elegant crooner-like voice and the multi-instrumentalist and composer Ernst Horn have been active since 1985, so this 2005 album is a product of late mid-age, so to speak, and many artists after so much time get lost in tired repetitiveness or improbable direction changes not supported by sincere intent. "April Skies" is instead a mature album, elaborated with attention and wisdom. Being, to date, the only studio album by Deine Lakaien that I've had the opportunity to listen to, I cannot precisely say how it positions itself within their artistic trajectory, but for sure, it's not a tired and impersonal work. A truly fitting title, "April Skies": where I come from, April is a strange, unpredictable month, capable of providing both sunny days and clear skies and the last cold snaps of the winter season, storms, and gloomy rainy afternoons. This album is just like that, traversing many different sensations and moods with an equally wide and nuanced range of styles and sounds.
Call it dark; call it gothic if you want, but ultimately "April Skies" is an album with a singer-songwriter spirit and electronic sounds, not lacking in danceable moments like the epic "Over And Done," which winks at futurepop or the synth-pop sophistication of the hypnotic and intriguing "When You Lose," and even a small but delightful dose of self-irony, "Take A Chance," a caricature of the most overused gothic stereotypes on an engaging DAF-style EBM rhythm. There are also somewhat more tense and tormented episodes like "Midnight Sun," powerful and anthemic, and the more elaborate and darker "Through The Hell," with elements of balance that add further creativity and depth to the work, such as the elegant electronic music box of an imaginative "Secret Hideaway" or the highly refined synth arrangements of "Heart Made To Be Mine," which explodes in an epic and powerful chorus. Then there are the ballads, five ballads, five different shades of blue; a wonderful color, far more fascinating and multifaceted than the one-dimensional black usually associated with this genre of music. There's "Slowly Comes My Night" which recalls that romantic and twilight spleen of the marvelous 1995 live "Acoustic," even stronger in a slow and heart-wrenching "Vivre," exploring the sounds and intimacy of the French chanson, enhancing Alexander Veljanov's tenor voice; contrasted and balanced sensations by "Satellite," quiet, dreamy, and spiritual, the atmosphere of a warm summer evening, contemplating a starry sky. The urban alienation of "Supermarket (My Angel)" highlights Ernst Horn's great authorial skills, able to express the weight and discomfort of loneliness and incommunicability, self-destructive impulses that reach extreme consequences in "Dialectics," a cold and creeping murder ballad that ensures the album ends with a dramatic but austere detachment, an awareness of the weaknesses of human nature perfectly summed up in a simple and powerful verse like "And good and evil must be defined, must be denied, fall into decay."
The greatest strength of "April Skies" is undoubtedly its open-mindedness, the ability to embrace various styles and different perspectives, harmoniously integrating them into the very precise and well-codified context of intelligent and mature "adult-oriented gothic": each song actively contributes to the work by adding something unique and personal, there are no dead branches on this tree cultivated with experience and wisdom, and an elegant, expressive, and charismatic vocalist like Alexander Veljanov adds further value and interest to a consistently compelling listen. There is certainly a bit of craft and mannerism but also indisputable credibility, something that the tired clones of the 2000s and, even worse, the pre-packaged teen products can, by definition, never possess; class is innate, and Deine Lakaien are a further and obvious demonstration of this.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Over and Done (05:13)
Your hand in my hand and my hand in your hand
Your hand in my hand closeness of the past
My hand in your hand and your hand in my hand
Jerking back and nothing will last
I have to go before it is too late
Have to wipe out the traces and memories will fade
And tears will stop flowing and tears will stop flowing
And memories will fade and memories will fade
Over and done Over and done
Over and done Over and done
Over and done Over and done
Over and done Over and done
Dead and frozen my heart Over and done
My life falling apart Over and done
Dead an frozen my heart Over and done
My life falling apart Over and done
Over and done Over and done
Your voice in my voice and my voice in your voice
Your voice in my voice sweet echoes of the past
Your voice from the call-box your voice at the door
Don´t want that anymore and nothing will last
Have to plug my ears before it´s too late
Have to put on the glow and memories will fade
And tears will stop flowing and tears will stop flowing
And memories will fade and memories will fade
Over and done Over and done
Over and done Over and done
Over and done Over and done
Over and done Over and done
Dead and frozen my heart Over and done
My life falling apart Over and done
Dead an frozen my heart Over and done
My life falling apart Over and done
Over and done Over and done
Your eyes in my eyes and my eyes in your eyes
Your eyes in my eyes faint glimmer of the past
My eyes in your eyes and your eyes in my eyes
Shine turns dull and nothing will last
Have to look away before it´s too late
Have to put out the fire and memories will fade
And tears will stop flowing and tears will stop flowing
And memories will fade and memories will fade
Dead and frozen my heart Over and done
My life falling apart Over and done
Dead and frozen my heart Over and done
My life falling apart Over and done
Dead and frozen my heart Over and done
My life falling apart Over and done
Dead and frozen my heart Over and done
My only sun over and done
My only sun over and done
Over and done Over and done
02 Slowly Comes My Night (04:25)
Can you see these eyes
These eyes so bright
Day and night they need you
Are awaiting you
Quiet days passed me by
Silent tears who will cry
Filled with thoughts for you
Nights are cold without you
And slowly comes the night
Quiet colours calm my eyes
And step by step I understand
It is a question of time
And wherever you are
Hiding far away or close to me
Send my answers to your land
Out of my darkned hole
I will never give up
Time will never stand still
Come back home piece of art
And embraced my sin
And slowly comes the night
Quiet colours calm my eyes
And step by step I understand
It is a question of time
Peace will grow in this heart
It will never fall apart
Colours light on canvas white
All the portraits start to sing
Songs of good sons they know
All these answers start with if
Will we redefine the line
Fight against all this crimes
And slowly comes the night
Quiet colours calm my eyes
And step by step I understand
It is a question of time
03 Secret Hideaway (04:21)
secret hideaway - hello we welcome you
secret hideaway - yes we know what to do
secret hideaway - i throw my arms around you
secret hideaway - yes we do welcome you
there they lay tonight
a night so quiet
no more abandoned
as they had been
see them lying tonight
oh so quiet
enjoy and listen
a tender silence
secret hideaway - hello we welcome you
secret hideaway - yes we know what to do
secret hideaway - i throw my arms around you
secret hideaway - yes we do welcome you
in search of something
something to dream
no oblivion no
no disappointment
quiet me and
a grateful you
believe in me it is
it's really true
secret hideaway - don't want to leave us now
secret hideaway - we are about to tell
secret hideaway - we share your visions too
secret hideaway - that is what we will do
secret hideaway - hello we welcome you
secret hideaway - yes we know what to do
secret hideaway - i throw my arms around you
secret hideaway - yes we do welcome you
04 Supermarket (My Angel) (05:23)
pale-faced close embraced
gliding along on the parking place
common taste interlaced
singing along on the parking place
oh my angel oh my angel
common wants our gold
this softly glowing hard
doors wide open common soul
a very warm welcome to us all
oh my angel oh my angel
oh my angel
supermarket arterial room
oh my angel
autohypnosis our heavy load
my bride sad eyes
smiling from a tv-guide
lips wide with the time
smiling from a tv-guide
oh my angel oh my angel
deep fried crowd teaser
smiling from the freezer
sun dried crowd teaser
smiling from the squeezer
oh my angel oh my angel
oh my angel
supermarket arterial room
oh my angel
autohypnosis our heavy load
drinks cash and carry
in a suburbian alley
clasp knife common apathy
in a suburbian alley
oh my angel oh my angel
blood on the cleaning things
dropping from her golden wings
calls for the cleaning service
they vomit as she sings
oh my angel
supermarket arterial room
oh my angel
autohypnosis our heavy load
05 Midnight Sun (04:26)
My life on straight avenue
And all my doings
Were in a rut
All I had well defined
Nightflights without wanting to
To where the lawn remains uncut
No more that
Leave behind
I'm gettin paranoid
I feel a gaping void
I have to fill this
Without idea of bliss
I have to break through
These barriers
I have to break through
I have to break through
Midnight sun burn me to death
Endless love bittersweet taste
Midnight sun burn me to death
Endless love bittersweet taste
Who caused all this longing for
I try to reach this unknown land
Don't know what, far away
Where I've never never been before
I try to run and swim across
For what luck
Who can say
I am getting paranoid
I feel a gaping void
I have to fill this
Without idea of bliss
I have to break through these barriers
I have to break through
I have to break through
Midnight sun burn me to death
Endless love bittersweet taste
Midnight sun burn me to death
Endless love bittersweet taste
I want to touch your light
Feel it deep inside
Hear me singing tonight
Hold you tight
I want to touch your light
Feel it deep inside
Hear me singing tonight
My wish to hold you tight
I am getting paranoid
I feel a gaping void
I have to fill this
Without idea of bliss
I have to break through these barriers
I have to break through
I have to break through
Midnight sun burn me to death
Endless love bittersweet taste
Midnight sun burn me to death
Endless love bittersweet taste
Midnight sun burn me...
06 Satellite (04:45)
lanterns reflecting on the water
signposts sent from the sky
dark pillars threaten you on your way
through the lands of your soul
you are rolling in the midst of your sparkling universe
not knowing if you can fly
maybe somewhere maybe someday
and your ship can't reach the shore
on the track of a wandering satellite
our silent flight on a starry night
to places that no once can find
flying blind time out of mind
your footprints on the gravel of the daily grind
though you never touched the ground
the stars beyond reach hold you spellbound
in the lands of your soul
and the cold facts never came to your mind
that your life became a close merry-go-round
you roam the streets of your small town
and your ship can't reach the shore
on the track of a wandering satellite
our silent flight on a starry night
to places that no once can find
flying blind time out of mind
flying blind time out of mind
dark is the water the sounds of the sea
all the posts have lost their light
too far away nobody came to your call
into the lands of your soul
you are still on the bridge that ship out of control
while the waves take you out into the night
as you refused to read the signs on the wall
and your ship will never reach the shore
on the track of a wandering satellite
our silent flight on a starry night
to places that no once can find
flying blind time out of mind
07 Take a Chance (04:54)
many years so many years
we've been sailing sailing on the seas
those ships distant lands
went through storms and laid and laid so still
many years so many years
we've been sailing sailing on the seas
those ships distant lands
went through storms and laid and laid so still
graveyards dark stars
some lonely princess far away
distant islands silent harbours
boys and girls and girls and boys they dance
graveyards dark stars
some lonely princess far away
distant islands silent harbours
boys and girls and girls and boys they dance
we will take a chance to
send you in a trance to
flatter all these ladies
braver than the rest
we will take a chance to
send you in a trance to
flatter all these ladies
braver than the rest
our companions trusting in
great delights or wasted wasted time
sometimes dark sometimes light
very cold but so warm inside
our companions trusting in
great delights or wasted wasted time
sometimes dark and sometimes light
very cold but so warm inside
many years so many years
we've been sailing sailing on the seas
those ships distant lands
went through storms and laid and laid so still
many years so many years
we've been sailing sailing on the seas
those ships distant lands
went through storms and laid and laid so still
we will take a chance to
send you in a trance to
flatter all these ladies
braver than the rest
we will take a chance to
send you in a trance to
flatter all these ladies
braver than the rest
we will take a chance to
send you in a trance to
flatter all these ladies
braver than the rest
we will take a chance to
send you in a trance to
flatter all these ladies
braver than the rest
we will take a chance to
send you in a trance to
flatter all these ladies
braver than the rest
we who take a chance to
send you in a trance to
flatter all these ladies
braver than the rest
we who take a chance to
send you in a trance to
flatter all these ladies
braver than the rest
09 Vivre (05:40)
vivre la vie comme un reve
du est ton ami
vivre la nuit comme un reve
du est ton ami
vivre le jour comme un reve
du est mon ami
vivre la mort comme un reve
du est mon ami
je voudrais pouvoir sourire
dans mes reves
je voudrais pouvoir danser
dans mes reves
tu voudrais pouvoir chanter
dans mes reves
tu voudrais pouvoir rester
dans mes reves
pouvoir sourire
pouvoir chanter
pouvoir rester
pas expliquer
seulement rester
vivre les reves mon ami
ou est ta vie
vivre les reves mon ami
ou est ta nuit
vivre les reves mon ami
ou est ton jour
vivre les reves mon ami
ou est la mort
je voudrais pouvoir sourire
dans mes reves
je voudrais pouvoir danser
dans mes reves
tu voudrais pouvoir chanter
dans mes reves
tu voudrais pouvoir rester
dans mes reves
pouvoir sourire
pouvoir chanter
pouvoir rester
pas expliquer
seulement rester
trop grand pour toi et pour moi
j'aime la vie
plus haut pour toi et pour moi
tu aimes la vie
parler de moi et de toi
faut aimer la vie
rever pour moi et pour toi
concevoir la vie
je voudrais pouvoir sourire
dans mes reves
je voudrais pouvoir danser
dans mes reves
tu voudrais pouvoir chanter
dans mes reves
tu voudrais pouvoir rester
dans mes reves
pouvoir sourire
pouvoir chanter
pouvoir rester
pas expliquer
10 When You Lose (03:53)
when you lose your fears
you can say yo can say
that i am losing you
fly away fly away
when you are losing me
you can say you can say
that you've lost your tears
dance away dance away
when we lose ourselves
we can see we can see
that we've lost our fears
up to you up to me
when we prove ourselves
we can see we can see
that we move ourselves
running free running free
11 Through the Hall (06:11)
the deep voice said they have arrived
did you decant the special wine
for our dear guest from 29
completely changed the things tonight
a pinch of powder
will change our night
their visit will set us free
a pinch of powder
will improve our lives
finally will set us free
through the darkening hall
we move and out of sight we keep
what little light what little light
there is along the walls
where the portraits are hanging
high up in the gloom
we are waiting for our guest
this is your world you want to stay
the same forever and a day
but something's changed you can't deny
for someone out there is telling lies
a pinch of powder
will change our night
their visit will set us free
a pinch of powder
will improve our lives
finally will set us free
through the darkening hall
we move and out of sight we keep
what little light what little light
there is along the walls
where the portraits are hanging
high up in the gloom
we are waiting for our guest
silver and gold our guest will bring
sit down and touch the mighty ring
can not await and can't deny
just take a look these hungry eyes
a pinch of powder
will change our night
their visit will set us free
a pinch of powder
will improve our lives
finally will set us free
through the darkening hall
we move and out of sight we keep
what little light what little light
there is along the walls
where the portraits are hanging
high up in the gloom
we are waiting for our guest
12 Dialectic (04:34)
Michael had a dream
sat on the landing stage
wisdom came with age
Lucie lost her babe
under the landing stage
Susan fixed her gaze
on Justin's eyes
Kevin had a plan
join the infantry
clever shirk a duty
mike began to sing
"a new awakening"
Susan did not care
"bygone love affair"
my faith in mankind
armoured caskets
in blooming meadows
they are rusting away
flowers will grow
to be cut by children
with knives of kitchens
in disarray
Justin had a vision
at a safe distance
from the raging water
Justin made a plan
life as a righteous man
Susan had a gun
unseen by anyone
time after time wheels mesh one another
time after time leads into crisis
time after time wheels break one another
time after time heals from paralysis
Lucie left her babe
in the cold water
Kevin hadn't told her
Justin fixed his sword
under his self-portrait
Susan had a knife
ready to end his life
time after time wheels mesh one another
time after time leads into crisis
time after time wheels break one another
time after time heals from paralysis
Lucie threw a stone
from the quay wall
she had lost her all
Michael sat alone
watching the sun go down
Kevin stayed at home
Lucie jumped alone
my faith in mankind
armoured caskets
in blooming meadows
they are rusting away
flowers will grow
to be cut by children
with knives of kitchens
in disarray
and good and evil
must be defined
must be denied
fall into decay
time after time wheels mesh one another
time after time leads into crisis
time after time wheels break one another
time after time heals from paralysis
time after time wheels mesh one another
time after time leads into crisis
time after time wheels break one another
time after time heals from paralysis
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