Rupesh Cartel unleashes a stunning debut album, packed with catchy songs, top-notch production, and a sound which will propel them quickly to the top of the synthpop scene. "Mainland" presents the perfect blend of vocal dr... more »ama, edgy electronic production, and memorable melodies that won't soon be forgotten. Fans of classic acts like New Order or Pet Shop Boys, as well as fans of newer bands like Echo Image or Apoptygma Berzerk will equally love the sound of Rupesh Cartel.« less
Rupesh Cartel unleashes a stunning debut album, packed with catchy songs, top-notch production, and a sound which will propel them quickly to the top of the synthpop scene. "Mainland" presents the perfect blend of vocal drama, edgy electronic production, and memorable melodies that won't soon be forgotten. Fans of classic acts like New Order or Pet Shop Boys, as well as fans of newer bands like Echo Image or Apoptygma Berzerk will equally love the sound of Rupesh Cartel.
"This C.D. is really cool. I popped it into my car stereo after a music festival and began the drive home. I was going on a max of 4 hours sleep, but the energy of this release sustained me the whole trip home. The really brilliant thing about this band is that the vocalist lends a distinctive style that makes Rupesh Cartel instantly recognizeable. To try to describe it is difficult, but his voice has a gravelly quality that complements the sheen of the electronics very well. This is not to say the programming is lackluster. The airy, white noise lead that opens the first track is unique and indicative of the brilliance to come. Just buy the c.d., or at very least check out the downloads, and prrepare for something fresh."
Good synth pop, some catchy tunes
K. Mulhall | So Cal, USA | 08/12/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I downloaded "Death with Soft Names" and was immediately hooked. Although the song still remains my favorite on the album, there are plenty of other songs that make this a must have for any synth pop fan."
Killer electronic album with some bite
Commander Fun | St. Louis, MO USA | 08/02/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a great album - it's got the thumpin' bass of techno/electronica, but more in the vein of New Order, where the lyrics are also angsty and not just fluff. More good stuff coming from somewhere in Scandinavia."
Caution: This CD is a highly addictive
J. Caron | Orem, UT United States | 06/16/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I first heard the song "Death With Soft Names" on a sampler CD and there was something about it that made me want to hear it again and again and again...Its catchy, but the singer has a lot of sincerity and passion in his lyrics and his voice. Some of the lines really stick to you. I love this one, "My killer ego got me high, and I got down and left my shrine". They also have come up with some very creative metaphors, very descriptive. Not a lot of musicians have such creative lyrics.
So I purchased the CD very soon after. I was not disappointed. The entire CD is great, not a single song to skip over. The other songs that especially stand out to me are "Contract", "Any Kind of Love", "Devastation", "To Climb", and "Yours to Command".
There is something special about this band. I like a quite a few synthpop bands, but few get me this excited, and few are this addicting."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1
