Raveonettes - Raven in the Grave

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 23 / 4 / 2011

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Review

'Raven in Black', the fifth album from my favourite band of this century, Danish garage rock duo the Raveonettes, doesn't dissappoint at all. 'Recharge and Revolt', which opens the album, has choppy guitar licks that will be instantly familiar to Raveonettes' fans, but then other waves hit you that sound like Lush and the Cure. Sune Rose Wagner's vocals are sugar sweet, and are as haunting as those of the Jesus and Mary Chain at their best. 'War in Heaven' starts off with a Christmas vibe before becoming as moody as the Cure or Interpol. The vocals again are sugary, so what we get here is a mixture of sweetness and darkness, and it works beautifully. 'Forget That You're Young' has more of a slow rock 'n' roll feel. Sharin Foo's vocal are as fresh as a new born child, before Sune joins in. This is very well-paced, with oddball keyboards adding much to the track too. 'Apparitions' has trippy guitar, keyboards and drums. Sune's tale on this track is haunting and compelling, which sounds like the Cure's 'Subway Song' updated for this century. 'Summer Moon' is slower and a sad love song that twangs beautifully. 'Let Me On Out' is more in the 50's style that the Raveonnettes initially became known for, and, a song of doomy love, is backed by walls of feedback and Phil Spector-like production. 'Ignite' has hit written all over it with catchy guitars, saccharine-flavoured vocals and a beat to make you dance. It is like the Pains of Being Pure At Heart with a twang sound. 'Evil Seeds' is a gritty and very dirty garage rock number, while 'My Time's Up', which ends the album, is a 50's lullaby. Superb!

Track Listing:-

1 Recharge & Revolt
2 War In Heaven
3 Forget That You're Young
4 Apparitions
5 Summer Moon
6 Let Me On Out
7 Ignite
8 Evil Seeds
9 My Time's Up

Band Links:-

http://www.theraveonettes.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theraveonette
https://twitter.com/theraveonettes
https://plus.google.com/+theraveonette
https://www.youtube.com/user/theraveon
https://www.songkick.com/artists/41245