Review Summary: Come closer and whisper to my ears, you know it turns me on.
NOTE: The album is UNRATED
Saschienne is the first collaboration between Sascha Funcken and his wife, Julienne Dessagne. Sascha has been in the German techno scene for more than ten years, having released a couple of albums and multiple singles. The pairing of a techno producer and a singer with a more traditional musical formation is promising in theory, even if the result will most likely be directed at the dance floor.
Unknown turns out to be an appropriate title, as the album, very surprisingly, exceeds any expectations you could have about the record.
Julienne perfectly understands the elegant, even discrete tech-house Sascha has in mind for the album, and accordingly delivers the sensual and playful vocals the music seems to ask for; Sasha appropriately tailors the tracks around her vocals, giving them a more song-oriented structure. In this way the music finds the right balance between groove and intimacy despite the occasional lengthy piece, making a record that is suited both for the club and for home listening. The tracks share a similar tempo and tone, but the sweet vocals and contagious rhythms graciously invite for multiple listens without being too insinuating. While there are actual lyrics to the tracks, it is clear the vocalizations are used primarily as expressive, warm layers of sound --some of which may get stuck in your head against your will-, with Sascha joining the party at some points to add a nice, different touch. The finished product is hard to resist, avoiding the trap of being too shallow and catchy to have a lasting allure or, on the other hand, being too club oriented for regular listening.
It is in this way that
Unknown, maybe unwillingly, widens its potential audience, for it is basically a pop record with electronic grounds, an album that can please those looking for catchy, accessible music and those in search for a more sophisticated and stylish work. Luckily,
Unknown is the first in a series of future records, and with it Saschienne has produced a lovely work that proudly falls in the ranks of the renowned Kompakt label.
