Donna Regina, "Northern Classic"

From our friends at Karaoke Kalk (a label that has begun to make a namefor itself in the land of lush electronic music) comes German duo DonnaRegina's equally lovely (if not somewhat stylistically different)follow-up to their 1999 release 'A Quiet Week in the House_. 'NorthernClassic', as its title suggests, gives its listener the sonicequivalent of a wintery landscape view through snow-dusted eyelashes.
Regina Janssen's fragile, whispered vocals are a shiver amongst thelargely electronic backdrop. "Let's Get Slow" makes for a strong startto the album, with its low bass throbs and twangy guitar, the latter ofwhich featured heavily on their previous release. The other tracks onthe album take a more subtle approach, and tend to be not nearly asengaging. "Favourite Human" is the notable exception to this, throwingpolished record scratches and vibraphone into the mix, to create whatis one of the poppiest songs the band has done in recent years. My onlycomplaint is in regards to the uninspiring lyrics: much of the band'searly material was sung in French, and it is in those songs that theyare lyrically much more effective. 'Northern Classic', sung entriely inEnglish, lacks sophistication in this department, and unfortunatelypartially suffers for it. For the most part, however, the album iswell-produced and will likely delight fans of charming, uncomplicatedelectronic music who can overlook banal lyrics.

samples:

• Let's Get Slow
• Blue (Happy Without You)
• Drifting Around

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