CHANDEEN - Echoes

I wish I could write a poem for Antje to lend her voice to.
And in it words for Harald to shape a melody from….

So many days now, I have been trying to write an analytic, objective review. Yet, as it is happening again, listening to “Echoes” evokes memories with feelings attached. So many flashbacks now, smiles, landscapes, words attached…

I guess you can label album as ‘good’ if it makes you feel it, if it makes you to feel. Every second of “Echoes” is, although not rich in variety of sounds, filled with feelings. Lyrics by Antje Schulz do not reach level of perfect lyrical craftmanship as Blake’s, Poe’s or Wilde’s, but they are shining sensuality and softness. Returning to original sound, stripped of experiments and rhythmic decorations, this Chandeen’s latest might even be the purest. Piano, cello (Christiane Fischer- sToa) with touch of guitars (Florian Walther), immaculately covered by voices of Antje Schulz and Antje Buchheiser (on ‘Echoes’) air overtaking melodies, simple in superlative.

sudden thought: <… this was too objective, impersonal, two-dimensional…>

Can you sing Poe’s melancholy better than in ‘A dream within a dream’?? Can more suitable orchestration be created for Wilde’s ‘In the forest’ ??? Their words are immortal, these songs just confirm it in most pleasant way. Yes, this album does not belong in an avant-garde/alternative category, it lacks obscurity, pain. But that would have ruined tenderness and warmth that each and every song is brimming with. And yes, this album can be compared to Delerium’s “Karma”. Finally a peer to a masterpiece. Coming from “Heavenly Voices” order, it is not a surprise. I wish Chandeen equal success to Leeb’s project.

And again:

I wish I could write a poem for Antje to lend her voice to.
And in it words for Harald to shape a melody from…