|
"Voyeur" Berlin |
|
Taking the cue from the Blondie before them, Berlin reacts then resets toward a new world odyssey that finds them releasing their first new studio album in over fifteen years. Berlin's comeback, however, began back in '98 when they released the live, "Sacred & Profane," the band, retesting the waters of time that earlier saw them drift from the scene so early in life and an album to further reveal the sphere of influence placed upon them in their fleeting hey day of equal parts controversy and commercialism. Terri Nunn, the young looking golden starlet whose sex-tinged lyrics stripped the boundaries of adolescent innocence and danced the cutting edge of provocative intimacy, again leads the resurrected Synth Pop and Rock sensations, today instilled with a freshness of talent to go with the uninhibited blonde ambition… And the overall yesterday to today growth factor is evident from the earliest moments of "Voyeur." Yet for all its titular suggestiveness, it is not of a gratuitous nature where a "Sex (I'm a…)" might've played out, but instead reveals a spiritual significance and emotional outpouring that cuts the umbilical of yesterday's soap scenes and develops both singer and band into a relevant modern day presence. "Voyeur" is a vibrant and well mixed record, overflowing with passion, love, and a desire to discover. I, for one, don't remember Berlin's last studio disc in '86, "Count Three And Pray…" Rather, I'm one of the many that knew of the group's hit singles of the day-"Metro," "Sex," "No More Words," and of course the Top Gun soundtrack #1 smash, "Take My Breath Away." "Voyeur" represents an earthier still ambient mixture of eleven tracks furthering their foray into a future existence that began back with the New Wave craze and dance floor days. Nunn, every bit the gorgeous young scream queen that set our hearts aflutter in the day, comes across clearly as a new diva in the digital age with a strong vocal performance that's light years removed from prissiness and Pop excess. "Blink Of An Eye," is the first single and starter track, and while up and down there are better choices, this is among those forward lookers with a flighty pace and unifying lyric underlying the electric dance beat; "Shiny" and "Drug" operate closely on the same scale, the former of an even greater dance floor groove, and the latter of a restless nature driven by Rock guitar. "Sacred And Profane," the song, if not for its slow building and transient nature could've gone forth as first single with its Corgan co-op calling card but instead settles in better with a dark background for closet classic future status. Through it all Nunn's passion never wavers-whether she's cutting loose on the torturous "Drug," future club fave, "With A Touch," flirting with danger with a "Stranger On The Bus," or soulfully swooning with "All I Ever Need" or "To A King," she, as singer/songwriter has never shined brighter than she does now, sex symbol or otherwise. And yet that part of the package won't change… it can't change. But critics who earlier could've dismissed the band as a throwaway Pop gimmick that couldn't outlast the '80s will be very pleasantly surprised by what's taken place here. "Voyeur" is a vibrant and vital record that capitalizes on the limitless resources of modern times, slickly polished and sub genre specific, drawing strength from a purity of essence and ubiquity that will win over fans and critics alike. Released by I Music Review by Vinnie Apicella [va85@columbia.edu] P.O. Box 20252
|