Search - Mors Syphilitica :: Primrose

If Only Other Goth Artists Could Be This Original

Sutaz | Sun Prairie, WI | 12/02/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Straight to the point, this is the purest example of how beautiful goth music can and should be, free from the stale cliches that is smothering the genre. Lisa's opera-esque voice lulls the ears of the listener like a Greek siren; once heard, there is no escape. The music is wondrously relaxing ranging from goth-rock to opera-folk. It is the type of cd you listen to while painting, reading, or writting; the music effortlessly calms your conscience. My highest recommendation."

Powerful, literate rock romantique

Scott Sweet | Colorado Springs, CO | 08/04/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great album of goth-rock with touches of folk and opera, and a good place to start for those new to the band. (Mors Syph used to be Requiem in White, then The N.C.S.) Eric Hammer writes all the music, and plays about as many instruments as Prince (or The Artist Formerly...whatever...). The styles range from exultant gothic rock ("Ungrateful Girl," "Skins of Lovers") to guitar/mandolin ballads ("Primrose," "If Palms Could Hold Sorrow") with surprises along the way. Eric uses the guitar for rhythm rather than flash. The lyrics are highly poetic; no goth fetishism, no politics -
just a romantic narrative similar to that of Mephisto Walz' Christianna Leonard. "This Love Ours" is a haunting little gem -a banjo ballad with a "scratchy record" effect and what sounds like a psychadelic pig squeal. "As We Slept" closes the album with some rock muscle.The jewel in the crown is, as always, Lisa Hammer's operatic voice. Since her vocals are achingly beautiful, could they PLEASE start printing the lyrics in their albums?!?!? The songs often have multiple instrument melodies, so it's a struggle to make out some of the words in nearly every track. Maybe it's just a mixing thing, or maybe it reflects the hyper-reclusive nature of the band.Swans. Lycia. Faith and the Muse. Ike and Tina Turner. Mors Syphilitica. There's something about married (or once-married) couples and great music."

Really good stuff.

goodmanbrown | Minneapolis, MN USA | 07/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Musically, Mors Syphilitca strikes me as occupying the space between This Ascension and Strange Boutique. All three bands exhibit outstanding songwriting and musicianship, but where Strange Boutique steered away from the "Goth" tag, Mors Syphilitica embrace the genre, and where This Ascension sticks closely to rock, Mors Syphilitca incorporate some of the traditional instrumentation of Dead Can Dance or Pieter Bourke's Eden into their modern sound.To continue to push on this now-tired comparison, Lisa Hammer's voice, like Dru's (This Ascension) might take a little getting used to. Mind you, it is *very* little getting used to, but nevertheless, the first time I heard the CD, I wasn't thrilled with her voice--she pushes it pretty hard, and it is high in the mix. By the second listen it didn't bother me, and by the third I liked it. It really pulls the melodies to the foreground.And that, I suppose, is what matters most: the melodies. There are plenty here, and they are all great. This is clearly a talented band, and I hope to hear more from them."