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Something about the way "Radio Cornwall" starts off makes me think it's something I haven't heard in a while. As if discovering a long lost mix-tape, trying to think of who I was and where I was when I made it.
This is my introduction to House Of Usher. My first thoughts were "obviously German", "obviously goth". Wavering guitars make me think of distant places I'd like to visit.
House Of Usher use metaphors like ships running aground to convey helplessness, but are also able to speak literally.
In "More Than Average" cries for help and attention are desperate, but universally felt. Middle Eastern electric guitars proceed a tender acoustic that dashes into deep emphasis. House Of Usher are fond of metaphors.
The hunter and its prey, "Hide and Seek". The lyrics are simple. I almost don't like dissecting lyrics. I find that whenever I pull the words from the music, I end up with the worst of gothic poetry.
But it's never that simple.
House Of Usher are a total package that consists of finely tuned, dark accompaniment, drowning female vocals, and heart.
Love loss and lament are continuing themes throughout the album. The sea is an essential character in a story that speaks of loneliness, heartbreak, and death. And there are stories here.
"Radio Cornwall" is an old school, musical journey, narrated by a thick German accent and set to a beat that will bring a tear to your eye, or at least your feet to the dance floor.
The title track "Radio Cornwall" starts with a different tone. A beat up rendition of The Star Spangled Banner followed by the words of Bush Jr., "Whatever action is necessary, I will defend the freedom and security of the American people."
It's a nice touch regarding current events, however keeping with the theme, Jörg Bartscher Kleudgen once more digresses into heartbreak. Speckled in more vocals from Bush Jr. that don't really make any sense. It's a good song, I just didn't get the Bush Spangled Banner thing.
A flair for the dramatic makes for good listening when done right.
While I'm a little confused by the title ("Radio Cornwall" is a Cornish radio station operated by the BBC) and political undertones, I can't help but really like this album...which surprises even me.
In particular, "No Love Lost" and "It Doesn’t Matter", melodic, dreamy. It's a hearty dose of old fashioned gothic soul, the way you remember goth used to be. It’s honest. It’s pure. Something may be lost in the translation, but "It Doesn’t Matter".
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The House of Usher is a German gothrock band with some name and fame. Radio Cornwall is their new album. The sixth already. The gentlemen have retreated to a remote farm in Fowey, Cornwall for this, which explains the title of the album. This must have been an inspirational surroundings, since radio Cornwall is a great gothicrock album with epic qualities. Lengthy tracks, sometimes sounding like early U2. The split single ‘Sanctuary’ which was meant as a teaser lasted 9 minutes as well. Luckily it doesnt bore at all. The epic character of the music matches the theme, which centers around a short story written by Jorg Kleudgen and can be read in the 24 pages booklet.
There are some fine gothrock songs on this album, such as ‘Hide & Seek’, ‘The Floor She Walked Upon’, ‘No Love Lost’ and ‘Radio Cornwall’. This album furthermore is characterized by the typical vocals of Jorg Kleudgen, choirs, piano play, synths and atmospheric guitarplay. A heavy rhythmsection ensures the tempo is kept up where it is needed. The first limited edition of this cd includes a bonus cd with five tracks on which the medieval band Violet add their contribution with percussion, bagpipes, guitars and flutes.
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Just as the Ethereal and neo-classical artists offer a side of Goth which is the sort of music you know you will be listening to for the rest of your life in one form or another, so some kinds of Gothic rock make sense the older the artists involved get, because maturer sounds should mix with a sanguine perspective that lets the words flow through the music, and that’s when the songwritng either shines or lays rotting in dull exhaustion. The House Of Usher come back here with their first album in four years and it’s an absolute marvel.
Straightforward line-up, with vocals, guitars, bass, real drummer and keyboards, straightforward delivery, but with everything geared towards exemplifying the tone of the song’s sentiments, so that it purrs along. There’s evidently something about this record being inspired by a week they’d spent in Cornwall, where the blighted beauty of the land wove its spell on them, and Cornwall can do that with it’s end of the world feel, although I don’t find it necessarily pulls together any particular lyrical threads, other than popping in some aquatic gloom.
‘Wherever The Storm May Drop Us Down’ wriggles as the treated guitar threshes the air, turning deliberately around the serious and sombre vocals, which never sink into depression. The melodic charm given to the troubled singing keeps it all smooth, and the band throb gently into a softly expressive chorus and then with chomping drums and a ringing guitar emphasis they vary the song with pauses and rebuilds. From that superb opener on, it’s a feast.
‘More Than Average’ has the keyboards chilly with a dour bass and clipped drums keeping things sedate as high female vocals are followed by the low regretful male variety, and the whole things shifts gradually like a grey landslide into another fine, almost muted chorus and weird use of guns and bombs at the close. ‘A Dead Man’s Hand’ allows grim guitar to form into solid, settled riffing in a song which is a steadily building, modest piece, before moving up for the slicker drums and milder, fluid riffing of ‘Hide And Seek’ with seems almost effortless. You sink into its sumptuous folds, and I’m not surprised it does well in clubs.
‘Will You Know It’ fills then empties, redolent of the waves at the start. The song twinkles, buoyed by the sparkling guitar riffing through the engaging tale which unfolds and here I’ll make the first of two comparisons, because this like a prettier version of New Model Army at their best. Having rescued a mermaid the protagonist is flummoxed by everything, the song re-stoking itself with eager guitar and chattering synth as the energy picks up and sweeps you around like a cool broom.
‘For Better For Worse’ starts with a folky delivery which is the most obvious sign of a rustic influence but it’s absorbed into their plaintive side, and quickly shifts into darker, starker territory as the bass and drums give it weight. They curl round at the edges with a song which prances onwards nobly in a stirring display. ‘Radio Cornwall’ returns to a modern edge, with a George Bush sample plonked into gravitas that’s losing gravity, as the mesmerising vocals woes float over taut drums and subtly burning guitar. ‘The Floor She Walks Upon’ have a maudlin dampness to accompany the vocal pain, and again the interwoven guitar and crisp rhythmical guile makes it a beguiling journey which tosses you around quite casually.
‘No Love Lost’ is the only let down here, because the lyrics are crap, although it lurches along pleasantly and is their must up, ornately infectious song. The other problem is that Jorg Bartscher-Kleudgen has written a story to be included in the gorgeous packaging, but it’s all in German, and there isn’t even an English version on the website, despite the fact they sing entirely in English. As the record looks as gorgeous as it sounds this s a disappoint omission.
It’s not too sprucing that Ikon are on this label because House Of Usher have the same approach to their music, without the sense of hard urgency. ‘It Doesn’t Matter’ is busy, lean Goth which bubbles under the lyrical admission of rejection, and here there’s some intense guitar development and supreme rhythmical vigour in another fantastic display. ‘Throwing Stones At The Wind’ is soppier, a lightweight bout which is attractive in its gentle gradients, and then they finish with a gloomy ‘Le Morte d’Arthur’ which urges along, glowing to an end of crows calling, water and storms.
(The bonus CD from the limited edition double digipack I received sees the involvement of a band called Violet who lend their medieval/oriental airs as they canter through a selection of songs from the band’s history, giving ‘A Dead Man’s Hand’ a minor sense of airier relief, while ‘With The Heat Of A Sun (2001)’ melts into a sweet abstraction. ‘No God On Earth (1999)’ is another decorated low entity where the gloom becomes bolstered, ‘The Man With The Dead Eyes’ (1996) gushes graciously, as does the ‘Stars Fall Down (1993)’ but really these are gentrified extras and a slight diversion from what the actual album offers.)
Unadulterated Goth glory, from start to finish, ‘Radio Cornwall’ has so many special songs you’ll love it. You will absolutely love it.
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One of the Legends of German Gothic music, The House Of Usher return with their sixth full length studio album. It follows a period of change, rebirth, and rediscovery following their last album Inferno / L'enfer which was released in 2002. After the dust settled THOU the new line up is Jorg, Markus, Ralf & Georg. Like a group of scientists locked in a lab they have been carefully nuturing and growing the seed that was planted when they visited Cornwall a couple of years ago. Radio Cornwall is by far the best THOU album to date. It encapsulates the spirit that is often found in their live performances. Opening with Wherever The Storm May Drop Us Down has epic Goth anthemn written all over it and would be more than apt for opening a live set with. The guitars are a perfect foil for Jorg's distinctive vocal. More Than Average opens with haunting piano keys and the use of some charming female backing vocals with plenty of Goth rock tempo. A Dead Man's Hand a true masterpiece of Gothic rock coupled with the lyrical genius of Jorg will ensure this track getting endless club play. Hide & Seek The power in this song is quite breathtaking. Will You Know Me will having you jumping around the room, simply a classic Goth track. For Better For Worse is a very subtle and clever lyrical love song. Radio Cornwall -I love the use of the last post and the George Bush sample, this track has already featured on a couple of samplers and should prove a popular song, very simple and clever hooks, with guitars to die for. The Floor She Walked Upon recounts a meeting with a long dead female spirit set the backdrop of frenzied Goth rock which at the very least will have your feat tapping. No Love Lost again with female backing vocals and the subtle use of minimal electronics the rollercoaster continues. It Doesn't Matter yet another song that will take the clubs by storm which captures the esscence of the new THOU sound. Throwing Stones At The Wind has a quality indie pop song feel to it. Le Morte d'Arthur is a very atmopsheric song that even The Cure would be proud to have written, a perfect ending to a perfect CD. The CD will also be released in a double CD format which includes remixes and info files. Radio Cornwall is an essential Gothic Rock CD of this decade not just for Germany but for the wider world of Gothic Rock music.
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