RUN LIBERTY RUN
Max Vaccaro, the General Manager at earMUSIC, has said of Run Liberty Run: "After having successfully worked in the last 5 years with many artists known on a worldwide scale... everybody at earMUSIC felt the will to welcome new artists among big names like... Deep Purple, Def Leppard or Skunk Anansie. The music of Run Liberty Run conquered us from the second we heard them." High praise, it must be said, particularly when considering the undeniably impressive roster of esteemed artists this young German band will be joining as part of the earMUSIC family. And, having fully digested their debut album, 'We Are', I get just why the folk at earMUSIC got so excited upon first hearing this Teutonic clan.
The first thing to strike me about Run Liberty Run's music is how it cleverly teeters around the cusp of a few different genres, but without fully blending their traits or fully committing to any one stylistic sway. They touch on disparate genre elements in the most delicately effortless of ways. If Run Liberty Run's music were to be illustrated by an unorthodox Venn diagram (bear with me!), the circles representing each style would be brushing against each other rather than overlapping, just enough to suggest subtle fusion. It's kind of perplexing that their songs are somehow a mix of several styles simultaneously, but without ever sounding like any of them in distinctly identifiable ways.
The music's too poppy and commercial to be considered alternative, yet it's too different to be identified with any kind of pop immediacy. Rock and metal elements are mixed into their compositional pot which, I guess, on paper, would make it too heavy for the casual popster... yet the blend of synth pop, heavy guitars and emotively charged vocals is wholly accessible. The heavy elements of songs simply become part of their emotionally eruptive crescendos, rather than mindless heavied up guitars just for the sake of genre affiliation. Most importantly, what overrides any genre contemplations here, and the crux of Run Liberty Run's essence, is that these are some incredibly well written songs, so style becomes secondary... genre is of little significance. For that alone, Run Liberty Run should be applauded.
Another thing to strike me about the music on 'We Are' is the hit potential of each and every song. And, when I say the tracks also have Eurovision winning potential, I mean that with not a single ounce of insult. This is not Euro cheese in any small way (besides, I love the Eurovision Song Contest; it's my annual guilty pleasure), but I envisage these songs as the kind of Eurovision entries that would sit at the quirky/alternative end of the entrants; shunned by those with limited listening propensities, but embraced as fantastically composed songs by the more discerning music fan.
Despite my praise here, and admiration for what Run Liberty Run have achieved with their debut at a relatively young age, the album holds few surprises. It's a case of heard it all before, but it's one big and pleasant surprise just how great the songs are and the level of maturity in both their songwriting and performances. Vocalist Schep, for example, from the emotional depth in his voice, sounds like he's drawing from years of life experience. What a way for these Germans to start their career. Definitely a band to keep an eye on. And, for the analogue enthusiasts out there, it's also worth mentioning that a rather lush 7" white vinyl (plus CD) single has been released in an attractive gatefold sleeve, with the songs 'We Are' and 'Titanium'. The label evidently believe in Run Liberty Run's potential. And rightfully so.
The first thing to strike me about Run Liberty Run's music is how it cleverly teeters around the cusp of a few different genres, but without fully blending their traits or fully committing to any one stylistic sway. They touch on disparate genre elements in the most delicately effortless of ways. If Run Liberty Run's music were to be illustrated by an unorthodox Venn diagram (bear with me!), the circles representing each style would be brushing against each other rather than overlapping, just enough to suggest subtle fusion. It's kind of perplexing that their songs are somehow a mix of several styles simultaneously, but without ever sounding like any of them in distinctly identifiable ways.
The music's too poppy and commercial to be considered alternative, yet it's too different to be identified with any kind of pop immediacy. Rock and metal elements are mixed into their compositional pot which, I guess, on paper, would make it too heavy for the casual popster... yet the blend of synth pop, heavy guitars and emotively charged vocals is wholly accessible. The heavy elements of songs simply become part of their emotionally eruptive crescendos, rather than mindless heavied up guitars just for the sake of genre affiliation. Most importantly, what overrides any genre contemplations here, and the crux of Run Liberty Run's essence, is that these are some incredibly well written songs, so style becomes secondary... genre is of little significance. For that alone, Run Liberty Run should be applauded.
Another thing to strike me about the music on 'We Are' is the hit potential of each and every song. And, when I say the tracks also have Eurovision winning potential, I mean that with not a single ounce of insult. This is not Euro cheese in any small way (besides, I love the Eurovision Song Contest; it's my annual guilty pleasure), but I envisage these songs as the kind of Eurovision entries that would sit at the quirky/alternative end of the entrants; shunned by those with limited listening propensities, but embraced as fantastically composed songs by the more discerning music fan.
Despite my praise here, and admiration for what Run Liberty Run have achieved with their debut at a relatively young age, the album holds few surprises. It's a case of heard it all before, but it's one big and pleasant surprise just how great the songs are and the level of maturity in both their songwriting and performances. Vocalist Schep, for example, from the emotional depth in his voice, sounds like he's drawing from years of life experience. What a way for these Germans to start their career. Definitely a band to keep an eye on. And, for the analogue enthusiasts out there, it's also worth mentioning that a rather lush 7" white vinyl (plus CD) single has been released in an attractive gatefold sleeve, with the songs 'We Are' and 'Titanium'. The label evidently believe in Run Liberty Run's potential. And rightfully so.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
earMUSIC
Album
WE ARE
Review by Mark Holmes
RUNNING TIME:
41:43
RELEASE DATE:
22nd July 2016
TRACK LISTING
1) Ashes and Dust
2) We Are
3) Rain
4) Where Are You Now
5) Start a Fire
6) C L O S E R
7) Take Me
8) Sayonara
9) Hold On
10) Bengal Fires
2) We Are
3) Rain
4) Where Are You Now
5) Start a Fire
6) C L O S E R
7) Take Me
8) Sayonara
9) Hold On
10) Bengal Fires
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Germany
"...what overrides any genre contemplations here, and the crux of Run Liberty Run's essence, is that these are some incredibly well written songs, so style becomes secondary... genre is of little significance."
