Being on Shiver Records you would be right taking a guess that Manic Movement come from Belgium. Also seeing as they are a female fronted band from a country that hosts the ‘Metal Female Voices Fest’ you would expect them to be good. No beating about the bush as far as ‘Dark Glitter’ is concerned from me; it is a very enjoyable album. Despite the fact that it is far from the oldest CD arriving and sitting on my review pile it is the one that has risen to the top and got repeated spins. Perhaps that is due partly for the fact that musically this is easily accessible and uncomplicated stuff but it is also largely due to the fact that I simply like this and keep finding myself wanting to play it.
Apparently Manic Movement have been going since 1993 and only switched to female vocals in 2006 when singer Virginia came on board. I cannot comment on older stuff having not heard it but their website states they wanted to create more accessible songs and as I mentioned before they have certainly managed to do just that.
‘Army Of Agony’ bombastically starts the album after an austere choral intro and has vocals joining in and coming very much to the centre stage above the music. The musicianship is quite gentle here allowing a long winding guitar solo to weep its way through proceedings flamboyantly but without showing off. This is not an album that is in a rush to go anywhere, soothing and passionate sees ‘Voices’ giving a warm caress, vocals becoming stronger but giving the feeling that full potential is still to be unleashed.
We do get going with ‘Vanity (Pride’s Paradise)’ which is a ballsy rocker and more upbeat with wahing guitars and a hooky head-twirling chorus. I love ‘Sleeping Beauty,’ vocals are sultry, rising to gentle rather than overbearingly operatic and adding spoken word whispers. The chorus is strong; there are Gary Moore-esque classically etched guitar weaves and some nice icy keyboard parts. It’s the kind of song that seduces the listener in one easy move. There is a cover, which this pop picker recognised within the first bar on first spin of the album. It’s ‘Russians’ by Sting a track that suits Virginia’s vocals perfectly and adds a different dimension to the song. ‘Puzzled’ again ups the pace with quirky keyboards and jagged rhythms before settling into a groove. It’s another track with a distinct personality and keeps things fresh and interesting rather than one dimensional. Twisting away sinuously after the tried and tested Middle Eastern button is hit we arrive at last number instrumental ‘Maze Of Shadows’ ending the album in an upbeat fashion with both sinuous and spicy flavours and chug laden guitar parts.
Check them out here
http://www.manicmovement.be
http://www.myspace.com/manicmovement
