published: 9 /
10 /
2009
Label:
RazorBladeKisses
Format: CD
Darkly poetic Gothic rock on first-rate debut alabum from Southampton-based rock band, RazorBladeKisses, which is fronted by two Iranian sisters, Layla and Azadeh
Review
Although 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Scar' is only RazorBladeKisses’ first album, and a self-released one at that, this album is an excellent offering from the Southampton-based gothic band. What makes RazorBladeKisses stand out from the crowd is that they bring a new edge to the gothic music scene, and a lot of this is from the song-writers and vocalists Layla and Azadeh's Iranian heritage.
The album opens with the fairytale-esque 'Alice', a darkly poetic track that sets the mood for the rest of the album. 'New Nightmare' swiftly follows, which has the added blend of an orchestral edge offset by the darkly tinged lyrics which are counter pointed by some childlike vocals. 'Pretty Dead Doll' is an archtypical gothic tale, but one whose lyrics have a strong resonance, especially the line of "I want to beat you black and blue". 'Ballerina' is a very witchy song, and has a strong beat that matches the flow in the lyrics.
My favourite song from the album is 'Teddy', a track which has distinct elements of Wednesday 13 and Rob Zombie due to their use of horror clichés, as well as a classic spooky theme tune that is reminiscent of 'Scooby Doo'. Yet despite this change in style, the result retains RazorBladeKisses’ unique style, and has my favourite line in the album with "Are you fighting off the zombies in your underwear? Well I'm a big girl, and I'm not scared".
'Twinkle Twinkle Little Scar' displays Razor Blade Kisses’ versatile musical range, whilst never losing their unique musically identity. My only complaint with the album is the running time is less than 40 minutes. Yet this disappointment is one that leaves you yearning for more. For a self-released album, the production quality is extremely high; from the excellent sound/mixing quality to the ethereal cover artwork and fairytale photography.
Fans of the goth scene will undoubtedly enjoy this album, but despite how good this album is, I doubt it will appeal beyond these borders. Nonetheless, this is a great album, and has been a refreshing shot of life into the Classic Goth scene, that was in danger of stagnating.
Track Listing:-
1
Alice
2
New Nightmare
3
Pretty Dead Doll
4
No Strings Attached
5
Teddy
6
The Butterfly
7
Ballerina
8
Toy Soldier
9
Deadly Yours
10
Lure of the Temptress