Search - Peach Union :: Audiopeach

A peach of a release that should be picked from obscurity

J. Derek Reardon | KC, MO, USA | 06/30/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sadly, by the late 90s, euro synth pop had become an underappreciated art form. So, through no fault of their own, Peach Union hit the scene in 1997 and quickly became another in a long line of one-hit-wonders (their bouncy and addictive single "On My Own" garnered some radio play in the US, and I still hear it today on occasion). This wonderful group was an unfortunate victim of bad timing. The late 90s saw the beginning of another influx of boy bands and teenage pop stars, so appeal was low (at least in America) for classic euro synth pop along the lines of Pet Shop Boys (in its orchestration) or Ace of Base (in its vocals). For those of you who are here because of "On My Own," I congratulate you on your perseverance and taste. Filled with upbeat, happy, danceable tunes, Audiopeach will surely satisfy and is a definite must have for your synth pop collection. "On My Own" is an anthemic opener with great hooks and beats that are happy and take charge. Released as a single (with some good remixes), this single had a modicum of success in the States. "From This Moment On" has a bouncy Ace of Base feel with some added anthemic-style orchestrations. "Made in Vain" is fun and head bopping with certain dance floor appeal with its great bass, classic piano hooks, and interesting atmospheric programming effects. A bit more subdued in tone, "Perfect World" is plaintive but uptempo and danceable in a darker, moody setting. "Sorrow Town" is a great attitude and dance tune with hard-hitting lyrics and fun syncopation and orchestrations. With some hard-edged instrumentation and effects that have almost a dance industrial tone, "Deep Down Together" is an up-tempo space-trance-techno-thrash experience, but with all the happiness you've come to expect from this release. "Tell Me" is definite late 90s dance floor filler material with sultry vocals, club-friendly beats, and classic synth programming. Continuing in that same groove, "Give Me Tomorrow" is another dance classic with fun lyrics and fun hooks. "Higher Ground," I am happy to say, is not a remake of the Stevie Wonder classic. It instead is classic synth pop that has some New Order orchestration (circa Technique) elements and a definite attitude going for it. Ending the release on a lighter note, "Hush" is a beautifully haunting techno lullaby, reminiscent of PSB ballads from their Behavior release. Overall, I give Audiopeach a solid 4 star rating. When it was on the radio, I simply loved the anthemic feel of "On My Own" and would sing it loud and proud in my car driving to and from work. It took a while before I finally decided to purchase the full release, but thanks to online samples, I could tell this was a quality release. The only thing that hinders a 5 star rating is the lack of variety. A few more slower and deeper songs like "Hush" mixed amid the dance-floor-theme dominant tunes would have made for a bit more of an interesting listen. But overall, for a debut release, this release shows strong potential and a definite grasp of what will fill a dance floor. The happiness vibe throughout the release is an added bonus; angst has definitely been overplayed and is overrated. If you like well-crafted euro synth pop and enjoy being happy or dancing about in a giddy haze, Audiopeach is a definite must have. While lyrically not as deep and meaningful as it could be, this release is still a fun and enjoyable experience sure to put a smile on your face. Listening won't change your life, but it certainly will improve your attitude. I feel sorry for great bands like this that get buried because of popular trends of the day. Maybe in a couple of years we'll see Peach Union again when good euro synth pop has returned to popularity. But until such a day, fans will stand proud with their copies of Audiopeach. Go ahead, dance and sing in your car with a smile on your face; let everyone else wonder what all the happiness is about. Life is sweet, and a little taste of Peach just makes it sweeter."

One of the most completely satisfying CDs I have listened to

J. Derek Reardon | 01/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Peach Union's Audiopeach is a collection of extremely catchy pop tunes which include "On My Own", "Higher Ground" and "Made In Vain." This is one of those CDs that you can't get enough of. I was turned on to it when I heard On My Own featured on a local station which led me to immediately purhase the single. The purchase of their single led me to immediately buy the album. While the album only has ten tracks, nearly all of them are wonderful pop tunes. "Hush" and "Perfect World" are slower songs and are not as catchy as all the rest although I would make that sacrifice to have the rest of the songs in my collection. My only regrets are that Peach Union had limited radio play in the US, not enough exposure and has not had any news of a follow-up album (at least that I have heard)."