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ArtistSwitchblade Symphony TypeAlbum Released13 May 2014 Friends3.25 from 2 ratings GenresDarkwave, Gothic Rock Industrial Rock, Trip Hopvote on genres Descriptorsdark, futuristic, atmospheric, urban, nocturnal, sombre, melodic, female vocals, mysterious, melancholic, hypnoticvote on descriptors Issue details Cleopatra Records / CLP1760 / United States AttributesColored Vinyl, Gatefold, Numbered Edition
Tracklisting: A1 Bad Trash3:46 ▸A2 Dissolve4:35 ▸A3 Wallflower5:01 ▸A4 Wrecking Yard5:09 ▸A5 Clown5:38 ▸B1 Cocoon2:09 B2 Dollhouse4:08 ▸B3 Sweet5:45 ▸B4 Gutter Glitter3:50 ▸B5 Mine Eyes4:24 ▸B6 Bloody Knuckles2:41 Total length: 47:06 10 Reviews Sort: votesdatelengthpositivenegativePage 1 2 >> Faville Jul 11 20101.50 stars+1Granted I don't really belong to or have anything to do with Goth culture or music, but to me this is pretty terrible. The performance is OK but the music itself is simple, bland, and pretty boring. I had a short period of time where I thought goth music fed a side of my psyche that needed feeding, but this album never touched that dark, depressive area in any meaningful way. Listening to it now, it seems like a well-done caricature of a silly slice of culture. Published  [Rating31079092] jools Sep 14 20094.00 stars+1This is impressive.  Some would call this darkwave or gothic.  But I wouldn't.  If pressed, I would describe this as soft electrogoth.  But that's not to say there isn't an intensity and darkness to some of the songs.  There is a good distinctive mood to the album and the tunes are very catchy making it an easy album to immerse yourself in.  Vocalist Tina Root has a nice voice and interesting vocal style which she varies throughout the album, even touching on hints of jazz and soul styles in some songs.  The first five songs in particular are extremely distinctive and highlight Tina's voice to good effect. Published  [Rating24951781] drakkar Jul 06 20143.50 starsI was first introduced to Switchblade Symphony by a co-worker about 10 years ago.  My thoughts at the time were that they were decent, kind of a second-rate techno-slanted Siouxsie and The Banshees.  I had the same impression a few months later when i saw them open for Gary Numan in Charlotte, NC on the last night of his first North American tour in 12-13 years.  I suppose the most memorable parts of the evening, as far as SS were concerned, were their guitarist wearing some bear mask or something, and one of their roadies or some such something coming out during Numan's last song and dancing around the stage in a little miniskirt.  Yeah, last night of the tour antics, you saw it here first.
They pretty much left my mind after that until early 2006 when my girlfriend (now wife) and i started looking for new things to listen to.  To make this long story short (too late, but it could have been worse), i ended up with a copy of Serpentine Gallery.  And, well, it's decent, a bit of a second-rate techno-slanted Siouxsie and the Banshees.  But some good music nonetheless.  More darkwave than gothic, really, and i lean strongly toward the latter, but it's quite OK.  Excellent, excellent vocals, as well.  With a little less electronica and some ghastly church organ, i'd probably love this. More ▾ Published  [Rating18530548] Warthur Sep 18 20133.50 starsSolid if slightly unremarkable, Switchblade Symphony's debut album is competent goth-by-numbers which just about keeps things interesting enough that I can get behind it. Tina Root and Susan Wallace have not yet here hit on the blend of darkwave and trip hop which would give them a more distinct sound on later releases, but instead we get some electronic-focused goth that reminds me a little of early Clan of Xymox. Published  [Rating55775306] VioletMoth Mar 30 20094.00 starsAt first I expected this to be quite heavy, and then softer than what it is. It's evocative and emotional goth rock. It actually reminds me a little of my latest female singer obsession: Francesca Chiara, and above all of her ballad  "L'onda". Switchblade Symphony's vocals (apparently by Tina Root) are similar, but better, and it creates not the same atmosphere (these ones are much darkier) but indeed the same state of mind. "Cocoon" is my favourite track, it's even more heartfelt than the other ones. I also love "..." and its choirs. "Gutter Glitter"'s spoken part sounds a lot like the amazing Il Giardino Violetto, ehile the London Bridge is falling down chorus is just creepily lovely. I love this record. It's enchanting and melancholic.
Thanks a lot to jools for recommending. Published  [Rating21652871] evelynne5 May 19 20054.50 starsI think this is my favorite of theirs still after all this time.  Her vocals get a little repetitive and her voice isn't the prettiest ever...but the songs are original, and gothy.  A lot of tracks are totally danceable which is cool, and overall this album is a rockin' gothic prodigy. Published  [Rating2047816] Gamefreak501 Mar 15 20044.50 starsThis is a great album. Nearly 50 minutes long and 11 tracks strong it shows a talented group, especially vocally and was my first, but definitely not my last darkwave purchase.
_Serpentine Gallery_ starts off very well with "Bad Trash" and "Dissolve" which are my favourite of the first 4 tracks. Then along comes the rest of the album, a very strong middle to end with the very haunting "Gutter Glitter" along the way. The middle to end comprises of almost all my favourites on this section.
Although Tina Root almost copies the vocal style of Siouxsie of Siouxsie and the Banshees, it is pulled off very well, but may or may not welcome Siouxsie fans.
Here is a full track listing:
1. "Bad Trash" ***** 2. "Dissolve" ***** 3. "Wallflowers" **** 4. "Wrecking Yard" **** 5. "Clown" ***** 6. "Cocoon" ***** 7. "Dollhouse" ***** 8. "Sweet" **** 9. "Gutter Glitter" ***** 10. "Mine Eyes" ***** 11. "Bloody Knuckles" *****
I recommend this to anyone beginning to get into darkwave. A very special, haunting, almost always beautiful genre of music. I can't really fault this album really. What an excellent debut! It's just a shame Switchblade Symphony enjoyed only a short career together. Published  [Rating686124] Col_Kurtz Aug 27 20034.50 starsA bunch of very talented ladies. The album is a perfect bland of mainstream rock laced with harsh industrial beats. The first track "Trash" sounds like a more electronic version of Godflesh's "Slavestate". The strong a very strong with a very cool bassline in it. There is also the blues beat of "Wrecking Yard" which is unique for the industrial genre. Although things may start to blend a bit the last 3 tracks become extremely dark and gothic. "Gutter Glitter" features a preschool song and makes it into the darkest thing i have ever heard. The next to last track "Mine Eyes" has this huge gothical atmosphere to it that would make M.Manson a little halloween costume. People, your mission is clear, this is gothic industrial music. This is the real deal by 2 extremely talented ladies. Published  [Rating289321]