Provision- Visualize

Provision’s second album realizes the promise only hinted at in the band’s debut. Full of catchy, early ‘80s-inspired keyboards, upbeat dance rhythms and melancholy singing, Visualize is a treat for fans of early New Order or any of Vince Clarke’s work. “In November” starts the album with a tight, moody but danceable track with noticeably better production quality than anything else the band has ever released. “Chemistry” and “Each Second Suffering” are album highlights and pay tribute to synthpop’s early days without actually imitating them, while “Intruder” and “Visualize” add a bit of depth by layering multiple vocal tracks for more impact. Provision have also come a long way lyrically. Although there are still a few missteps – “Obvious” could’ve been written by a moping high school Depeche Mode fan – songwriter Breye Kiser has largely abandoned the overly simplistic couplets that marred earlier efforts. “Obsession” in particular stands out; it’s a song about Kiser’s experiences in the club scene, and although it could’ve easily gone trite and hokey, it’s interesting enough to draw you in and really make you pay attention to what he’s saying. Provision still have the same sound longtime fans are familiar with, but with this latest CD they’ve really brought the quality up to a professional level. This is worthy of recommendation for any diehard synthpop fans.

Visit Provision online at www.provision-musik.com.