Edge of Dawn- Enjoy the Fall

ARTIST: Edge of Dawn
ALBUM: Enjoy the Fall
LABEL:  Metropolis Records
REVIEWER: Matthew J.
DATE: 11-8-07

Edge of Dawn's long-awaited full-length debut is a magnificent effort, a concept album about a sociopath and the lover who, tormented by his erratic behavior, eventually kills him. Apart from the album's intro and outro tracks, however, the songs on Enjoy the Fall work equally well individually, with Seabound's Frank Spinath delivering intense, heartfelt vocals over the rich programmed textures and rhythms of project founder Mario Schumacher. Some of the best pieces on here are the ballads; "Descent" mixes natural-sounding piano and guitar with subdued drum programming, and "Beauty Lies Within" fills out Spinath's gentle singing with symphonic string pads and a modern electro beat. There's plenty of dance material, as well; "Black Heart" is thumping hard trance minimalism at first, just pounding beats and sparsely stabbing synths, but as Spinath's voice breaks from whispers to belted harmonies the song achieves epic status. "Chamber Six" is likewise dramatic and grandiose, with staccato violin patches dancing over thicker, more ominous string arrangements. Schumacher's influences encompass both new and old; "Pray for Love" is thoroughly modern in its production, but its moody keyboards and Spinath's vocal performance recall Depeche Mode, while the driving breakbeats and synthesized tension on "Damage" recall the darkly minimalist techno overtones of Covenant. The only problem with this album, if there is one at all, is that the individual songs and melodies are so slick and catchy that they tend to distract from the depth behind Schumacher's concept for the album. The pop hooks and vocal harmonies suck you in, making it easy to bob your head and sing along, but not so easy to pay attention to the storyline. That's hardly a problem when it comes to club play, however, and you can guarantee that any of the songs on this CD will keep the dance floors crowded.

For more information about Edge of Dawn, visit their website at www.edgeofdawn.com.