PLASTICZOOMS' newest self-titled album is a brilliant mix of genres that you will really find hard to put into one simple category. The band has created their own unique blend of gothic, electronic and new-wave romantic sounds to produce this album that is able to connect on many levels with their fans and will no doubt appeal to new listeners as well.
Frontal Attack opens the album with a sci-fi, harmonic wave that sounds a little like a warning signal (think along the lines of single and eerie oscillating music from the early "Doctor Who" program) as the beat and guitar gives a heavier feel. There is a gothic-techno feel to this song that wouldn’t be amiss at a rave. The beat is almost this constant heartbeat to the track, the guitar bringing in a grinding melody and the short section of Sho's vocals towards the end a welcome reprieve from the instrumentals as a sort of chant.
The Future follows with more melody and more prominence of the bass guitar as well. This one is more rock song than techno rave track, with a bouncing beat from the drums and the bass, plenty of additional melodies from the vocals and occasional electronic elements, altogether packing a punch.
Quite Clearly offers another different style to the album. Slightly slower in tempo, this track switches expertly from rock to new-wave in a way that sounds current but with a flair of the 1990’s, which could be where PLASTICZOOMS gained inspiration from, but combined it with their own imaginative musical ideas to make it distinctively unique.
Minds slows things down even further with a flowing, beautiful composition with moody vocals for each verse. It then opens up with a chorus that is even more emotional, with an added trance backing that compliments the track to greater effect. Highway follows quite nicely, with a funky guitar melody and bass line that is both appealing to listen and dance to.
Night and Hurt throws you rather abruptly back into the gothic, electronic side of PLASTICZOOMS. This track is definitely the darkest sounding track on the album so far by way of the grinding of the guitar, the mood of the vocals and the re-introduction of the singular oscillating sound that was heard at the very beginning. However, as the first seconds of Smoke Motion enter your ears, you realise your mistake: this one is the winner of the gothic prize. With a simple beat, the repetition of the opening synth instrumental and the obscure vocals that speak of dark sensations, it is hard not to fall in love with this track if you are a fan of the expressive and gothic romantic type of song.
It’s a ‘now for something completely different’ as Breitenbach finishes the album with a calming, melodic, soft rock track. It’s another great song, even with an additional melody from a piano, but it does feel a little out of place after the more powerfully heavy electronic songs that dominated the latter part of the album.
PLASTICZOOMS really have delivered a creative mix of songs for their new album, never knowing with the end of one song where the band are going to take you next, which makes the listening a fun experience.
