DIJ Comes of Age with NADA!
Robert E. Murena Jr. | Fairfield, CT United States | 03/04/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Nada is an album that explodes with fresh ideas in the midst of some great dark `80's dance tracks. This is the last DIJ album to feature Patrick Legas and his influence is certainly felt throughout. The weakest tracks are the ones that feature his lead vocals but for the most part the album is great and the best early DIJ album available. Mixing eighties drum beats and influences that include WWII German Marches to eastern European traditional music to Gregorian Chant and of course punk and folk styles the sound is certainly unique. Using Douglas Pierce's booming yet contemplative voices, synthesizers, heavy drums, and some tape loops courtesy of their Current 93 connection this album will leave an impression on each listener and is a fantastic work of art.
The notable songs on this album include "The Honor of Silence" which is a beautiful song mixed with homoerotic imagery. The music of this track is thick and moving with snare drums and castanets and a great a showcase of Douglas Pierce's vocal range. With this album, as with all DIJ productions, the lyrics can be interprated very many ways. "She Said Destroy" is another great track that again has questionable lyrics. "She says Destroy In Black New York" is meaningless or unintelligible but this music is all about the art. "Fields of Rape" is an interesting song and of course is a double entendre for fields of Rape the plant that is grown in central Europe and fields of rape the violation. This song one could say is the sister song to Current 93's "Fields of Rape". They vary slightly in their lyrics and as much as I like Current 93 the DIJ version is better.
As this album reaches the 20 year mark it is amazing how listenable it still is. This album represents good DIJ work from that period when they moved from the earlier punk sound to the dark folk sound that they came to be known for. Nada is an album that is rich and diverse but not for the weak of heart. I recommend this to all who are able to see past Douglas P's supposed political opinions and want to hear some great music that experiments a little to a great payoff. If you have heard other DIJ stuff before and liked it you will certainly love this album and if you haven't heard any before give it a shot: if nothing else you will be among the select few who know DIJ and I think you'll soon be a fan too.
- Ted Murena
"
NADA!
Sean J. Rocamontes | Orange, CA United States | 01/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Absolutely essential to anyone about to start thier collection of Death in June albums. This is the one you have heard in clubs, and it is a fantastic starting point to know what this band is all about.
Half the album has some great 80's dance beats and the other half has thier appocalyptic acoustic sound they are known for.
My fav tracks are "crash and soul" , "the calling (mkII)" and of course "she said destroy""
In response to the other reviews
Scott Klapman | Los Angeles, CA USA | 11/20/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"1) The tracks that Patrick sings are surely not weak.
2) "crash and soul" must be "Crush My Love"(?)"
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1