The 11th Hour [1/25] *

Description

"The 11th Hour" (01/25/2005) Rock & Pop Psyche, MetropolisPsyche: Remi Szyszka (synthesizer, sound effects); Darrin Huss. Personnel: Darrin Huss (vocals, sampler, sequencer); Per-Anders Kurenbach (synthesizer, programming, loops); Christian Wirsig (synthesizer, programming); Remi Szyszka (loops). Audio Mixer: Tim Schuldt. Recording information: House Of Wax Studio. Photographer: Dirk Uhlenbrock. With the triumphant 11th Hour, longtime leader Darrin Huss introduces Psyche as his own one-man band, bids adieu to the classic duo format, and delivers another well-rounded set of dark and lovely music. Synths are still sounding pop, sonic landscapes are still theatrical, and the lyrics are still equally sinister and precious, but 11th Hour sounds surprisingly fresh with Huss as inspired as ever and willing to take on new musical challenges. Grander is the way to go for Huss and the first three tracks of the album are huge. "Bloodcurse," "Yearning," and "Defenseless" are big, brooding numbers looking to accompany some moody horror movie's end credits, but Huss can't stay away from the gothic dancefloor forever. "15 Minutes" takes the listener there and is worthy successor to the big goth hit "Angel Lies Sleeping," but "The Belonging Kind" is the real up-tempo shocker. The drum 'n' bass-flavored footstomper is just about as oddball as the finger-snap jazz of the title track, but like everything on the album, purposeful and identity crisis free. The last three tracks take Psyche farther away from the land of Depeche Mode and New Order while a hidden little guitar ditty at the end brings reminders of Suicide. Risky stuff for a band with such a faithful audience, but Huss' most cathartic album is only going to shave off a few of Psyche's fans, the ones that need them to stay put in dark '80s nostalgia. A satisfying album in itself, 11th Hour points to an even brighter future for Psyche, goth's most fully formed little secret. ~ David Jeffries

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