I really do not understand the whole Musique bashing that Theatre of Tragedy fans seem to like to indulge in quite a lot. A lot of bands go through periods of change and experimentation. Musical evolution is important in order to survive and to keep things fresh. It is often deemed that metal bands have sold out once they choose to incorporate electronic or pop influences into their sound. In the case of Musique i honestly feel that Theatre of Tragedy would not be going today had it not been for the fresh musical injection of experimentation of Musique. Classic bands like The Gathering would've lost the musical respect that they have built up had they continued to remake Mandylion and Nighttime Birds just as Theatre of Tragedy would've if they had continued to remake Aegis and Velvet Darkness They Fear.
I have a deep appreciation for Metal as well as Electronica and the blending of the two, when done correctly, can be quite delightful. The uptempo beats yet dark electronic metal gives the album an edge you don't find on any other album. Liv Kristine proves that she can be just as much a musical fox as she is a siren. Her vocals are extremely strong especially on album highlights "Reverie," "City of Light" and the more pop friendly tracks like "Image" and "Machine." Raymond's vocals are pretty much spoken which is a stark contrast to the early metal albums. Here, with the aid of his trusty vocoder, his vocals are pristine yet mechanical.
The songs on Musique are very raw. The album has an edge that many will either love or hate. You only have to read the tracklist to figure out that the album is pre-occupied with technology, machines and city nightlife - a complete 180 degree turn from the melancholic beauty of "Aegis."
Regarding the songs, in all, the album is a hook-fest. As Liv sings in the title track "I'm gonna make a perfect line, Gonna make it stick to your mind" and they succeed. The band also tip the hat to some of their musical heroes such as Kraftwerk on the track "Commute" with the slight play on the lyric "It's more fun to commute."
This album is a total triumph in every respect. An open mind will reap rewards. The album is an intriguing musical enigma but once the beats get you they will never let you go.
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