Soil and Eclipse- The Mirror

ARTIST: Soil and Eclipse
ALBUM: The Mirror
LABEL: COP International
REVIEWER: Matthew J.
DATE: 5-18-08

Darkwave duo Soil and Eclipse's latest CD gives a nod toward the contemporary EBM and synthpop of acts like Covenant and VNV Nation while keeping the band's fascination with Medieval European music alive and well. "Violin" is a startling opener, thanks to its thumping bass line, although classical strings, church choirs, and lead singer Jay Tye's Latin vocals immediately put things back on familiar footing. Still, it sets the mood for what may be Soil and Eclipse's most club-focused release yet; 'Elysium Rain" is a solid dance floor killer, the only nod to the duo's usual preoccupations being the choral backing vocals. Even "She Flys with Angels," at heart a piano ballad, is set to a pulsing techno kick. Lest longtime fans longing for moodier, more atmospheric pieces be left disappointed, things do gradually slow down; "Grace" again highlights Tye's operatic tenor with backing choirs, but this time keeps the electronics deliberately understated, while "Her Self" is a dark and moody piano ballad content enough with itself to skip out on the thumping techno beats. "I Was Proud" and "Black" are pure orchestral beauty, laced with strings and choirs and the rumble of timpani, and though "Lies" returns to the dance floor, it's got a sense of exoticism to it that owes less to EBM than to Delerium or even Enigma. "Light of Ages" finishes things up with a return to more overt club territory, but the beats take a backseat to Tye's soaring vocals. This is a step in a new direction for Soil and Eclipse, but this is still very much the same act that fans of operatic darkwave have come to know and love; the more dance-oriented elements augment their sound without overpowering it, and will hopefully bring the band some much overdue attention from the club scene.

Check out Soil and Eclipse at www.soilandeclipse.com.