Inadream - 2024 - Strange Words

(33:38; Echozone)





















Track list:
1. Strange Words 4:18
2. The Prayer 3:22
3. Unleash the Beast 2:23
4. Two of a Kind 2:26
5. Horns and Halos 3:02
6. Die Away 3:48
7. White Light 3:29
8. Dead Souls 3:15
9. Listen! 3:47
10. In a Dream 3:48

Line-up:
Achim Bockermann - drums
Dennis Wüllner - bass
Thorsten Wüllner - guitars
Frank Bottke - vocals, guitars


German band Inadream has been around since 2016, and after signing with German label Echozone they released their initial album "No Songs for Lovers" back in 2019. This year the band were ready with their sophomore studio production "Strange Words", which was released through the Echozone label in the fall of 2024.

In many ways I find this album to be quite the charming and retro-oriented affair, where the major and also most interesting parts of the album revolve around the post-punk style of music in general and the classic 80s sounding variety of the form in general.

The most alluring songs, at least as far as I'm concerned, revolve around a driving bass line, guitars that alternate between being a more careful support presence and coming to the forefront with a more distinct melodic resonance as well as a mood and atmosphere that adds a little bit of a mournful and melancholic mood to the proceedings. In the very best cases with a bit of a haunting undercurrent.

The title track kicks off this album in a just about perfect manner as far as those conditions go, and for my taste in music at least the slightly New Model Army sounding and somewhat more edgy 'White Light' later on explore those tendencies to very good effect. With the latter of these two perhaps being the most distinct and impactful as far as my own perception of music is concerned.

Many of the other tracks are, perhaps, just a little bit understated, but still retains that retro charm and combines this with flow, energy and momentum in a manner that still brings a smile to my face and makes me feel right at home.

We do get songs that are a bit more jangly in nature too, with indie rock and arguably even with a little bit of pop-punk added to the fray. For my taste in music these songs just aren't as interesting in form, sound and execution, but from an album experience point of view they do add variation to this production and do add the effect of the songs that follows these excursions making a bit more of an impact than they otherwise would have provided.

The heart and soul as well as the most compelling aspects of this creation revolve around the post-punk landscapes explored though, and if a slightly understated variety of 80s sounding post-punk is a take on that tradition of music that tends to fascinate you, you should have a good time investigating the charms this album can provide.

Olav M. Björnsen, October 2024

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/inadreamband
http://www.echozone.de/

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