The Faint is a band with many faces. The guys from Omaha released on their first two albums, Blank-Wave Arcade (1999) and Dans Macabre (2001), a mix of new wave, synthi-pop, indie rock and punk: an extremely danceable whole. In America this recipe has already led to success and Wet From Birth is quite a successful album in the homeland. On this record, The Faint pushes its limits a bit further;
there is eager experimentation with string parts that play a prominent role throughout the album. In addition, the danceability factor has been increased a bit. Influences from Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode can be heard in a number of songs. The most successful up tempo pop song, however, is Southern Belles In London Sing, a song in which the violin parts really come into their own. The Faint is an original representative of the eighties revival movement and enriches itself with more and more influences, something that can only be applauded. (JdD)more
