Seize- Constant Fight

ARTIST: Seize

ALBUM: Constant Fight

LABEL: Alfa Matrix

REVIEWER: Matthew J.

DATE: 2-11-10

Five years after their last release, London act Seize are back with a dozen brand new tracks that run the gamut from synthpop ballad to funky club jam. As always, a large part of the appeal is lead singer Sandrine "iSandi" Gouriou, whose soprano vocal flights form the centerpiece of the album's most memorable two tracks, the catchy yet delicate piano-laced electro number "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and the lush "Virtual Love," which builds from ethereal dreaminess to catchy techno-laced pop. The album also sees the band exploring hints of everything from drum 'n' bass, as on the atmospheric "Is There Another Way," to progressive house, as on "Craving for More," to trip-hop, as on the mellower "Fight for Your Constant Sun," which pairs iSandi's voice with deliberately flattened breakbeats to good effect. While such tracks as "One Second Hallucination" and "Who's Your Teacher?" are upbeat and club-ready, iSandi's innocent yet sensual vocals soften things enough for the album to work as well on headphones or home stereos as on the dance floor. Seize's roots are in techno, but there's a pop sensibility here that broadens their appeal significantly. Fans of progressive house, electro funk, and synthpop alike will find this album worth the wait.

Visit Seize's MySpace page at www.myspace.com/seize for a taste of the new album.