Customer Reviews

Beyond Here and Now

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Look, I can't really explain this. It goes against all logic. Neuropa is Erasure reincarnated and something else completely in the same instant. You hear this and think ERASURE ERASURE ERASURE. Yet there is no Andy Bell, no Vince Clarke. You instinctively know that this is not Erasure. The connection is clear but in a transparent fashion. You hear it but you can't see it. You know it but without understanding. It is AND it is not.

So that doesn't help does it? Let it be put this way: If you love Erasure, you will love Neuropa. If you hate Erasure, you will hate Neuropa. For the lovers- you've heard this before but not like this!

Well, out of all the types of music that I generally collect, synthpop is my favorite. After Erasure and DM started to fizzle in their last few records, I started hunting for new groups to listen too. I live in America and I guess I feel like so much music at least here is very bland and one song sounds like the other. I guess I just like something different. This album just fits my tastes somehow.
"Bound" reminds me a bit of Red Flag but it is still an awsome fast-paced track. "True Love War's" was a great song and Neuropa did a great job of re-creating it. "Lifeline" somehow ended up becoming my favorite track on this album though. I love the bass and the catchyness of this song and it has a feel all it's own. This song just ends up on repeat somehow and is great to wake up to in the morning. Other favorites on this album are tracks 5-9. "Soul Mirror" is probably the darkest sounding song on the album and it is a great song about reflection and something that everyone can relate too.
I would have loved to have rated this a five star but it has only a couple of small faults. I felt that the album should have ended at Still Life. A great outro. I like a good album that somehow keeps a certain flow and feeling to it and I prefer a good short album over an album that feels drawn out. "In Need" simply doesn't flow with the rest of the album at all. "Beyond Here and Now" was an ok track and a good starting point for the album but it didn't stand out as much as the other tracks. I suppose the album could have also used something slower in-between the other faster tracks. Most of the tracks on this album are fast, upbeat tracks. Which is great, but I like an album that is more balanced. It just needed something slower-paced somewhere mid-album. Great album though and it holds it's own in my CD player!

The duo of Jason Last and Albert Martinez shine on this excellent release. Bright synthpop melodies and excellent vocals will remind you of the best the genre has offered. They do very well with the somber and powerful "In Need," but the reason to buy the album is the upbeat and energetic synthpop abundant on "Beyond Here and Now." Songs like the title track and "Lifeline" will make it hard to resist the urge to dance.

A hidden nugget is the duo's cover of the underrated Erasure b-side "True Love Wars." Dare I say they've improved on the original?

Fans of classic melodic synthpop like Erasure and Pet Shop Boys should check out this release, and see what the underground U.S. synthpop scene still has to offer.

Neuropa is a great synth-pop band from Australia that are truely fantastic. They bring back the memory of the 80's synth-pop days with todays technology. There is lots of great songs here. Wonderfully orchestrated synth sounds that will make you dance for most of the album along with fantastic lyrics that will sooth your soul and make you escape reality. The vocals are amazing as it sound somewhere in between Andy Bell of ERASURE, Claude S. of ANYTHING BOX and Mark Reynolds of RED FLAG.
The music is more progressive and happy.
My favorate songs are: "Beyond Here and Now","Bound", "True Love Wars", and "Lifeline".

This is a great CD. It sounds great right from the start and plays great on a long commute to work.
I'll never forget when I played this CD for a friend in my car and he said
"who's this?" . I said "it's an underground synth band that tries to emulate
80's pop bands like Erasure and such.
He said "these guys sound much better than Erasure!".
I couldn't agree more!

I didn't think a newer band could pull off a remake of a/an Erasure's song.Neuropa did it and did it well.I love the chime-like sounds and the rythm of this song.There's others that deserve attention too and like Lifeline,Beyond Here and Now,and True Believer.All the songs on this cd is definately upbeat and worthwhile.If you ever collected Erasure's music and want to have someone new to listen to give Neuropa a shot.I have all of Neuropa's c.d.s except The Blitz and can say i'm never disappointed to listen to them over and over.

This is the band's best CD to date! Neuropa has produced a CD filled with a polished sound of great songs in the genre of syth-pop music. Highlights on the CD are "Bound", "Lifeline", and "In Need". They also do a great cover version of Erasure's "True Love Wars".

Being a long time synthpop fan, I would definitely recommend this album if you like synthpop. Neuropa reminds me of bands such as Erasure, OMD. This type of music is very light and happy so if you are into that type of music, definitely pick this one up!! This album is very like the sound of thier first album, New Faith. I'd have to say almost all tracks are really good, they are very talented, I can't wait to hear more from them!

This is the first CD by Neuropa that I bought. After recieving this CD I have to say I am floored by the music. Its catchy, its complicated, its fast, its slow. Its a mix of all that I love about great music. The music styles are varied and show a depth of talent from this Australian group.

Some standout tracks for me include: "Skin Deep" a very true song, I love the message here. "In Need" a slower, more melodic song which makes me just want to pause and listen every time it comes on. "Beyond Here And Now" a faster song with a nice beat which makes you want to get up and move.

On all these songs there are really good lyrics and nicely recorded vocals. The lead singer has a really nice voice.

Highly recommended to all lovers of synthpop, electronic music, or just pop music in general.

well neuropa does it again with another fabulous turnout of catchy hooks and great vocals. this is one of my favorites. the standout track for me is "New Day". they remind me of erasure/depeche mode but with a more sweet melodic sound. well produced and a fully satisfying cd.