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Rating: The music played by the German band Zeraphine on this album from 2003, "Traumaworld," closely resembles what can be found in many other gothic rock band productions (also clones of other bands). The five Germans deliver thirteen tracks that follow patterns heard countless times before, yet lacking that extra quid to set them apart from the crowd: gothic rock that features now canonical characteristics, with tones sometimes dramatic, other times more melodic, always connected to melancholy and a certain underlying spleen.
The guitars intertwine in rather nice nighttime riffs, fulfilling their role without overdoing it, while the rhythm section often prominently features a bass that weaves robust and steady textures. The singer's voice is deep and sustained, reminiscent of the latest Lacrimas Profundere, but without the same edge.
The songs follow one another without major jolts, and the album slides over the skin without leaving a mark on the folds of the heart. Noteworthy tracks may include the first one, "Light Your Stars," a necessary introduction to Zeraphine’s sound (which will not deviate much from what is expressed in this track), "Falling Breath," a ballad that is finally intense and more emotionally felt, the cover of Depeche Mode's "In Your Room" (after all, not a completely failed experiment), and the title track, but little more.
Honestly, I find it a bit lacking. I don’t know, maybe over time I’ve become more demanding, or perhaps I haven't fully grasped this album and the band's ideology. However, the fact is that the album fails to communicate anything special to me. Perhaps there’s nothing more to say, and this genre of music has already fired all its shots... It might be, but then one wonders how, on the same themes, a band like their aforementioned compatriots, Lacrimas Profundere (to take the band that reminded me of them the most, but there are others), has been able to produce excellent albums of undoubtedly greater quality and emotional presence. Adequate, but there's much better out there.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
06 In Your Room (05:21)
In your room
Where time stands still
Or moves at your will
Will you let the morning come soon
Or will you leave me lying here
In your favourite darkness
Your favourite half-light
Your favourite consciousness
Your favourite slave
In your room
Where souls disappear
Only you exist here
Will you lead me to your armchair
Or leave me lying here
Your favourite innocence
Your favourite prize
Your favourite smile
Your favourite slave
I'm hanging on your words
living on your breath
feeling with your skin
Will I always be here
In your room
Your burning eyes
Cause flames to arise
Will you let the fire die down soon
Or will I always be here
Your favourite passion
Your favourite game
Your favourite mirror
Your favourite slave
I'm hanging on your words
living on your breath
feeling with your skin
Will I always be here
08 Be My Rain (04:04)
When you fell into my arms
Appearing so frail, if you ever were
And you told me a thousand things
I've never dreamt about
When your eyes fell grey
Could it be I made them shine for awhile?
Now you're gone, as if you ever meant to stay
Be my rain
Be my rain
To wash the pain and the truth away
Be my rain
Be my rain
Embrace my world, everlasting
We were talking through the night
No one could say a word
Of what had passed or should be said
As if time stood silent,
The dawn never came
And the skies are empty
Since we stopped
Far away,
We cannot share the love within us
You're far away,
And rising up to start
again
13 Wenn du Gehst (05:25)
Deine Blicke wandern ziellos im Raum umher
Du liegst schon lange hier
Und atmen fällt so schwer
Für einen Augenblick fällt Licht auf Dein Gesicht
Doch die Wolken sind zu schnell für Dich
Wenn Du gehst
Kehrst Du nie zurück
Aus Deiner Welt
Unfassbar schön
Wenn Du gehst
Bleibt ein Teil zurück
Und nie erlischt
Dein Stern für mich
Und die Erinnerung an längst vergangene Zeit
Zerklüftet unser Hirn und unsere Ewigkeit
Der Kampf ist lange schon verloren, die Zeit steht still
Von Dunkelheit bist Du erfüllt
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By TheDevil
From the title alone, you can understand what they intend to communicate, an "obscure" or rather dark or gothic album, but melodies are not lacking.
It remains a good album to listen to. Recommended for lovers of gothic, darkwave, synthpop and derivatives.
