Arvio

HERR makes quite stereotypical neo-classical. Stuff that sounds computer-produced and very artificial, is highly bombastic and repeats the same structures over and over within a track. Yet HERR does this well, unlike many of the so-called leading names of the field. The band has two clear advantages: melodies that work well and the excellent use of vocals. The language changes from track to track (English, Dutch, German), but it's especially the English-spoken parts that are highly impressive. Two tracks using this are right in the start, the melodic and epic The Fall of Constantinople and Hopes Die in Winter, which is a very clever spoken-word track that has a minimalist background.

Those two are unfortunately the best songs on the album, so it's slightly downhill from there on. The static, unfinished-seeming Hagia Sophia is far behind the quality of the preceding tracks and Tanz Konstantinopel just a routine instrumental piece. But after a nice Beethoven/Scarlatti adaptation (Requiem) the album starts again with new energy. A New Rome is a pathos-filled, yet quite calm war song and Frühlings Erwachen follows the same line in a different language and with smaller melodies. Oneindigheid is a short piano-and-speech work very similar to older Penitent albums. The disc ends with Strife, a track that stylishly returns to the record's initial themes even though it isn't quite as powerfull as the opening track was.

It's nearly impossible not to compare this album to the works of Von Thronstahl. The two are so much alike. Of the two, HERR has a far more "complete" feel to its works, more diverse melody structures and especially far better vocals, so I find it clearly the stronger of the two. It is certain that HERR is definitely going to be appreciated by folks who like VT's music.

This is indeed very corny, but with a stylish and enjoyable flair.

Jiituomas

HERR - The Winter of Constantinople

HERR tekee varsin stereotyyppistä neoklassista. Tietokonepohjaisen keinotekoiselta kuulostavaa, erittäin mahtipontista ja kappaleiden sisällä itseään toistava. Mutta tekee sen hyvin, toisin kuin monet alan nykyisistä isoista nimistä. Yhtyeellä on kaksi selkeää valttia: hyvin toimivat melodiat ja erinomainen vokaalien käyttö. Kieli vaihtelee raidasta toiseen (englanti, hollanti, saksa), mutta selkeästi voimakkaimmissa osissa on käytetty brittienglantia äärimmäisen tehokkaasti. Kaksi tätä tekniikkaa hyvin eri tavoilla hyödyntävää kappaletta on sijoitettu heti alkuun, melodinen, eeppinen The Fall of Constantinople ja minimalistisella taustalla tehty mainio spoken word -teos Hopes Die in Winter.	Artisti: HERR Formaatti: CD Levy-yhtiö: Cold Spring Julkaisuvuosi: 2005 Kokonaiskesto: 52:15 Kappaleita: 9
Näiden jälkeen ei tosin sitten vastaaviin tehoihin päästäkään. Pahasti keskeneräisen oloinen Hagia Sophia jankkaa paikallaan ja jää kauas alun tunnelmista ja Tanz Konstantinopel on vain aika rutiininomainen instrumentaaliteos. Hienon Beethoven/Scarlatti -sovituksella luodun tauon (Requiem) jälkeen lähdetään taas uusilla voimilla vauhtiin A New Rome on paatoksellinen mutta varsin rauhallinen sotalaulu, Frühlings Erwachen samaa linjaa eri kielellä ja pienemmillä melodioilla. Oneindigheid on lyhyt piano&puhe -teos erittäin paljon vanhan Penitentin tyyliin. Levyn päättää Strife, joka palaa tyylikkäästi alun tunnelmiin, vaikka ei olekaan aivan yhtä voimallinen kuin avausraita. Tätä albumia vertaa aivan väistämättä Von Thronstahlin tuotantoon, niin paljon ne toisiaan muistuttavat. Vertailussa HERR kuitenkin vetää huolellisen viimeistelyn, mielenkiintoisten melodiarakenteiden ja ennen kaikkea vokaalien voiman ansiosta selvästi pitemmän korren. Siitä voi olla aivan varma, että jos VT on miellyttänyt, myös HERRista pitää taatusti. Korniahan tämä on, mutta tyylillä. Jiituomas

Takaisin - Kokoelmat - A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - R - S - T - U - V - W - Demot

HERR makes quite stereotypical neo-classical. Stuff that sounds computer-produced and very artificial, is highly bombastic and repeats the same structures over and over within a track. Yet HERR does this well, unlike many of the so-called leading names of the field. The band has two clear advantages: melodies that work well and the excellent use of vocals. The language changes from track to track (English, Dutch, German), but it's especially the English-spoken parts that are highly impressive. Two tracks using this are right in the start, the melodic and epic The Fall of Constantinople and Hopes Die in Winter, which is a very clever spoken-word track that has a minimalist background. Those two are unfortunately the best songs on the album, so it's slightly downhill from there on. The static, unfinished-seeming Hagia Sophia is far behind the quality of the preceding tracks and Tanz Konstantinopel just a routine instrumental piece. But after a nice Beethoven/Scarlatti adaptation (Requiem) the album starts again with new energy. A New Rome is a pathos-filled, yet quite calm war song and Frühlings Erwachen follows the same line in a different language and with smaller melodies. Oneindigheid is a short piano-and-speech work very similar to older Penitent albums. The disc ends with Strife, a track that stylishly returns to the record's initial themes even though it isn't quite as powerfull as the opening track was. It's nearly impossible not to compare this album to the works of Von Thronstahl. The two are so much alike. Of the two, HERR has a far more "complete" feel to its works, more diverse melody structures and especially far better vocals, so I find it clearly the stronger of the two. It is certain that HERR is definitely going to be appreciated by folks who like VT's music. This is indeed very corny, but with a stylish and enjoyable flair. Jiituomas