I never
know what to expect when one of my favorite bands loses a member. Will it change
what I love about the band? Will it make them even better? Frequency Drift lost
their vocalist Antje Auer, a real shame if you ask me. She had such a clever,
detailed style of singing. In steps Isa Fallenbacher, then, and I'm not sure
what to expect, especially considering Antje was one of my favorite female
vocalists.
My
worries have subsided. Not only is Isa an amazing singer, but she also uses much
the same style, much to my comfort. If it's even possible, though, I even feel
that Isa's voice is more delicately clear, too. All in all, she's a perfect
match in every way, as her emotive voice proves. The sorrowful lyrics require
someone with both strength and control, and Isa nails it with elegance and
grace.
If you
are not familiar with Frequency Drift, the band plays what they call "cinematic
progressive rock". It is indeed cinematic with big, sweeping atmospheres and
percussion, but delicate ethnic-inspired melodies. On this album, the band
doesn't seem to miss a step. They seem rather comfortable with Isa at the reins.
Not only
has the band adapted to the presence of a new singer, but I feel that the band
has produced some of their best music to date. They pulled out all the stops and
produced their most eclectic album yet. The variety of instruments on "Over" is
simply staggering. Everything from harps and violins to flutes and cellos to
wavedrums and violas are present. It lends to the band's sound immensely, as
each and every track seems to have something special about it. On top of that,
Andreas and Christian on keys and guitars are not overshadowed by the array of
instruments. They perform amazing guitar work, even stepping into shoegaze a
bit, and the keys are as vital as ever. I'm so impressed right now; I'm grinning
from ear to ear. Frequency Drift is completely original and completely unlike
any other band, and somehow they've managed to push the boundaries even further.
I do
admit that one thing disappointed me on this album. "Over" features a change in
direction in drums. The previous albums had such an interesting drum sound with
melody- enhancing blast beats that were perfectly placed. I kept waiting for
them, but they never came. However, my disappointment didn't last long, as I
realized that the new direction was more eclectic, as there are far more
percussive instruments in play with a far more mature style of writing.
The album
begins with "Run", an exciting taste of the album. A slow and delicate melody
builds up to a powerful climax of guitars and keys. Amazing! However, the album
really reaches its stride when it begins "Wander". From this track on, "Over" is
quite possibly one of the best albums I've ever heard. "Wander", "Driven", and
"Release" fire on all cylinders with an eclectic mix of instruments and
incredible instrumentals. The interplay is astounding, honestly.
However,
the best track on the album is "Memory", one of the best songs I've ever heard.
I'm not exaggerating here. The catchy lyrics and melody crash headlong into an
extended instrumental full of eclectic collaboration. Swirling percussion meets
soaring keys and fantastic guitar work, including an outstanding solo. It's a
song unlike any I've heard, even from Frequency Drift. The sheer height of the
song should impress any listener. Then, after such a monumental track, the band
ends the album with a soft, quiet, beautiful outro as if to say, "Think about
that for a few minutes".
Frequency
Drift has crafted what may be their best album. In fact, I'll go out on a limb
and say that it is definitely their greatest. From the beautiful melodies to the
mature songwriting, and from the eclectic focus to the churning instrumentals,
"Over" is a progressive masterpiece of gigantic breadth.
