Search - Ganymede :: Euromantique

Euromantique: American EuroBoys

Rix Roundtree-Harrison | Washington, DC United States | 10/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Billboard magazine's July 24th issue spotlighted the burgeoning new musical movement called Nu-Electro or Electroclash, as most seem to prefer. In the three months since that issue's release I've purchased over a dozen full length CDs by Electroclash artist. Most of these purchases were mentioned in the Billboard spotlight, Miss Kittin & the Hacker, Ladytron, I Am the World Trade Center, Bis, Felix da Housecat, Mount Sims, T.H.E.M (Thee Human Ego Maniacs), Chicks On Speed, Adult, the Faint, and Crossover and one act that was unmentioned in the Billboard spotlight, two guys out of Oakland California who have become my electronic favourite, the underrated Ganymede. Ganymede is in a word, sensational; their only real competition in the Electroclash universe is the incredible Ladytron. What has really impressed me about Ganymede is the high quality of the electronic music they deliver. These Electroclashers assault your senses with consistently invigorating electronic loops, blips, swirls and synth washes in a pulsating 21st Century frenetic electronic storm. Not only is the music they create exceptional but also it's lyrically interesting, on many levels speaks to you personally, and it makes you want to dance. Ganymede is as good if not better than many of the 80's synth euro rockers whom they have been influenced by. Not only do they reinterpret 80's synth pop they reconstruct and rewire it. Like the Greek god Zeus hurling a storm of thunderbolts from atop Mount Olympus Ganymede, (who in Greek Mythology serve wine to the Gods) from atop their Roland, Linn and Yamaha sling down frenetic electrical thunderbolts of their own that would send Zeus the god of thunder running for cover. Ganymede can't help but be sensational, in their music you can hear the influence of such first generation electricians as OMD (Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark), New Order, Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Bobby "O" Orlando, Ultravox, Book of Love, The Human League, Erasure, Yaz, the Units, Visage, Gary Numan, Pet Shop Boys, and the Old Masters of electricity Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder. With such a lineage it's understandable why each track of "Euromantique" is a sensation.Ganymede's CD "Euromantique" is one professional and well-crafted piece of work. "Euromantique" contains 12 tracks and all are pure electronic bliss. From the sophisticated icy electronic European glamour of the opening track "Euromantique" to the electronic nursery rhyme-like final track "Only Pictures Cry" (those thunderbolts I mentioned, you'll find them here) this CD grabbed my attention and would not let go. Ganymede's electricity is of an extremely cynical nature as mankind's dark side is brought to electric light in "Legacy". With "The Final Year" the end is here and never has a song had you ready and willing to face the unknown of a delicious electronic darkness. Ganymede's cynical electric darkness is delivered in sometimes-playful sometimes detached and sometimes robotic tones, but it's always enjoyable. "Are You Falling In Love Again?" did something to me that no song has done in a long while, it spoke to me personally, mirroring events that are currently taking place in my life (no, you don't need to know the details). "Euromantique" is also a contradiction as it is both robotically sweet and mechanically human. It tenderly touches you then turns around and electrocutes you. With Ganymede's robotic delivery, cynicism, sometimes-detached ambivalence, their uncanny pop sense, pulsating electronic beats and synth swirls "Euromantique" is an event not to be missed. "Euromantique" is also an extremely addictive CD and I try to stay away from it. I found that once you begin to play it you want to hear the entire thing again and again and that can be problematic if you are in a hurry to get somewhere. Many times Ganymede's "Euromantique" has caused me to be late for an appointment or work. Knowing full well that I'm in a time crunch I tell myself I'll only listen to one track before I'm out the door. I tell myself I'll only listen to track #5, then I'll say "well if I listen to #5, then I must hear track #7", then #7 leads to track #9, #9 leads to track #12 etc etc, then I'm late for work and it's all the fault of this excellent CD. I even went so far as to place restrictions on the CD such as I wouldn't listen to it while getting ready for work or if I have to be someplace by a certain time.....needless to say the restrictions did not work.Ganymede's "Euromantique" is absolutely excellent, the most fulfilling CD I've purchased in a long time, and I highly recommend it.And please, don't burn it, buy it.Rix Roundtree-Harrison"

A Big Leap Forward

alloverthemap | Wilbraham, Massachusetts USA | 02/02/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Hot on the heels of their AFTER THE FALL CD, Ganymede returns with EUROMANTIQUE. This CD is a major improvement over its predecessor in terms of melodic development and production quality. It is chock full of truly infectious, old school synthpop with both traditional (80s) and contemporary rhythms. The title track and the vocoder-laden first single, "Neon Rain," set the pace for the invigorating ride that follows. Patrick Runkle's vocals are reminiscent of the Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant's, although they are less deadpan and a tad less polished. Overall, this CD is an excellent representative of the work of the new generation of American synthpop bands. If this band continues to develop at the current rate, watch out!"