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ReviewsAnother Life by Sean X - 1700Mhz What we have here, in “Another Life”, is a study in transmutation. The latest release from UK act Greenhaus is an achievement of evolution, and nothing less. The result is a glorious long-player nominates itself as a viable soundtrack to the post-modern life. But mostly, it’s the fruits of metamorphosis… and not a techno album The signs of the transformation have been there for those who’ve followed the growth of the band. With the debut album “The Greenhaus Effect”, we were introduced to exponents of minimalist techno, replete with ‘2001’ samples and thumping electro. It’s follow-up, “The Unmistakable Sound Of Sloth” introduced us to a more confident act, which painted with broader strokes and more ambitious arrangements. The sound was more complex, denser and more luxurious – the results of experience, better gear, and the addition of a live guitarist. More recently, audiences were reporting that Greenhaus had consolidated their live presence with a female vocalist. Song Structures. Verses. Choruses. Lyrics. Emotional performances… from techno to pop? Greenhaus didn’t just want to rule the darkened little dance corner of the music scene. They were crossing over, ready to stand and be counted alongside mainstream acts too. There aren’t many that can do it. For every Moby, Prodigy and Crystal Method, there’s a thousand electro-weenies who flee ruefully back to their synthetic comfort zone. Taking your electro to the mainstream takes hard work, credibility and dedication. It takes balls of steel. It takes solid, world-class live performances. It takes solid, world-class material. And it takes a great album. …Which is where “Another Life” fits in. What we have here is over an hour of masterfully performed and produced songs. While the sonic emphasis is still electronic, it’s pretty clear that most of the tracks on Another Life aren’t intended for the clubs. Dancefloor play is always possible – the addictive heavy breaks of “Rockstar” practically demand it - it’s just that these songs don’t feel like they were written for DJs. “Another Life” seems to follow an Eighties vibe. Not, though, the superficial hollow aesthetic aspect picked up on by the electroclash movement, with all the dinky digital sounds and retro posturing. Rather, this album seems driven by an abiding respect for the emotional content of the period’s music. The combination of yearning, love, naivete, introspection and hope that were magically embodied in acts like OMD, Tears For Fears, The Cure, New Order, etc – that’s the kind of spirit which is effectively captured here. The performance and production, though, are unmistakably 21st Century. Personally, I hope this turns out to be a winning style for Greenhaus. Partially because it’s one of the finest and most original stylistic ideas I’ve seen lately. And partially because the world, post-911, seems to really need it. The opening track, “It’s That Time Of The Year”, perfectly captures this endearing combination of remorse and optimism, lovingly draped in lush orchestration and rich, complex electronics. It’s that smiling sadness that permeates much of the disc, and the one cover (The Cure’s “Plainsong”) clearly illustrates the group’s influences and intentions. “Another Life” features a few vocalists in addition to Lahannya, including Sandrine Gouriou (Seize), Liz Green (Swarf), and Roi (Mechanical Cabaret), and all carry the spirit of the album seamlessly. Some tracks stand out as winners, such as the album’s title track and the sublime “One Day Closer”. A lot of them, like “See No Reason” (frantic, melodramatic trance) and “Fragments” (euro-disco), don’t... But they’re album tracks and support the greater whole. For me, the highlight of this disc is “Solar One” - orchestral in scope; grand and powerful, like a monument to nature. “Another
Life” is an achievement. Not particularly a good techno album -
It’s a stunning album, period. Densely emotional, larger than life,
a thing of sparkly beauty. It’s an album that eschews short-term
dancefloor gratification, and goes for timeless classicism. I don’t
know what the older fans will make of it, but something tells me that
“Another Life” will find it’s more than welcome in the
hearts of the converted and become a favourite, to be played, covered
and referred to for years to come.
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