Deleyaman
The Edge
The 6th album of Deleyaman may very well be the most important and accessible one in the band's rich and unique discography. On this album, one can hear the influences and musical references of Aret Madilian, the founder and frontman of Deleyaman. It is still difficult to categorize Deleyaman into a single genre but this album is most definitely in the alternative spectrum with touches of melodic post-punk, darkwave and coldwave. The bass is nicely upfront with a JJ Burnel (The Stranglers) type of attitude/sound on a few of the tracks. The timeless quality of their compositions is a constant and the vocals of Madilian and Valantin come together beautifully reminding us at times of Leonard Cohen with Jennifer Warnes. Though "The Edge" is by no means an 80's nostalgia album, the chorus and delay drenched guitars on some songs, are sometimes reminiscing of the sound of certain bands from that era (The Chameleons, The Cocteau Twins). The lyrics on the tracks which have all been written by Aret Madilian are to the point and intriguing, evoking contemporary issues as on the title "Hey Now". Two of the tracks on the album, "Murdered Days" and "Juillet" surprise the listener with french lyrics. They are mysteriously sang by Beatrice Valantin, the french female voice of Deleyaman. Gerard Madilian who plays the ancient and unusual instrument called the duduk in the band, reveals the magnificence of its haunting sound perfectly on the tracks "Castles in the Sand" and "Thousand Days". This 52 minute, 13 track album is a pleasure for the ears and profound for the soul.