First translated DL article from Czech to English
Deine Lakaien - April Skies (2005 / CD / Chrome / dark wave)
Author: P:M (writes for a website that concentrates on rock, metal and similar alternative music and also has his own website: http://www.music-pioneer.net/ )
(Translation: Proxima)
Originally written: Monday, 27th of June, 2005
Original article: http://www.volumemax.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44
The biggest surprise of this spring and the biggest boon for this summer.
I’ve got to know the last album of the German duo Deine Lakaien recently withal it was also my first encounter with these virtuosos of the German gothic/dark wave scene. The encounter was rather unexpected but very pleasant and also very important for me.
What do we usually imagine when we hear that a band comes from Germany? A bunch of clichés and erroneous beliefs1. Some of these are nonchalantly overcome by the very band. The composer Ernst Horn and the singer Alexander Veljanov compose in such a harmony that their origins occur to you only while you listen to their live records, where both of them speak in their mother tongue. I try to remember, in vain, any other male voice that sounds as silkily and soothingly as Veljanov’s. The April Skies should be prescribed as a medicament against headache and the everyday stress.
Just as usual when it comes to Deine Lakaien, their album has no problem with more noticeable weak spots - even though this kind of music is very likely to have some. Among the 12 tracks on this CD you’ll find one, maybe two noteless songs. The whole composition is otherwise very beautiful to listen to, and strongly melodic songs will soon completely enchant you. But they’ll do it only so that they can veil you completely in their atmosphere, which they hide at first maidenly behind their splendid romantic melodies. Once you’re captured, you’ll open your eyes and realize the world of the real life and the love it embraces.
It would count for nothing if I raved about ten songs here so I’ll mention only the most essential ones. The wide musical knowledge and experience of Mr. Horn are displayed in Slowly comes my night. Its composition is really much more close to the classical music to which the duo aims from rather electronic beginning. Among the romantic songs appears refreshingly the dark and bold Midnight Sun. Its rock tirades ideally complement the whole album and they allow you to take delight in the second half of the disc too. Lastly I’d like to mention romantic song Vivre in which Alexander2 sings in French. The impact on our souls is thereby even stronger (and deeper) and we fall forever for the dazing atmosphere of the “April sky”.
In this ugly age, Deine Lakaien are one of those treasures that get better and better as time passes by. Therefore I cherish them and I eulogize their music.
1 In Czech Republic are only a very few German bands known even though we’re neighbors - the only ones that are quite popular here are Rammstein, Tokio Hotel, Scooter, Sarah Connor, maybe Nena… you get the idea (note of the translator).
2 The author really used only the first name so I didn’t change it.