La Parade Monstrueuse

In Strict Confidence | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 13, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Metropolis Records
• ASIN: B00393UEY2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #270,317 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars La Parade Monstrueuse, A Musical Freak Show Worth Listening To?, June 11, 2010

By 

M. Mierzwa (Davis, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: La Parade Monstrueuse (Audio CD)

About the Band:
Fronted by Dennis Ostermann, this 20+ year old German darkwave project has managed to continue to pioneer and progress the darkwave genre, by slowly changing over time while keeping true to electronic format. Of course, the challenge for any band that slowly changes its sound is to keep its original fan-base happy with its newer music. In the case of In Strict Confidence (known in industrial circles simply as ISC), most fans seem pleased (I certainly have been) with ISC's growth. ISC is best known for Dennis's raspy, deep, and slow vocals (he is the gothic / darkwave Billy Idol).

About the Album:
The steampunk flavored La Parade Monstrueuse is ISC's 8th major release and on my first listen immediately earned a spot amongst my favorite albums. Named after a 1930s era French film about freak shows, Monstrueuse diverse collection of industrial / steampunk flavored songs is aptly named. Common to German darkwave bands, while most of the songs are sung in English, two of the tracks, "Ewige Nacht" and "Schwarzes Licht" are sung in German.

Like most ISC albums, the liner notes are amazing in their own right. Although not credited as a steampunk band, the artwork is unmistakably of the Victorian-industrial flavor. Lyrics for all the songs (English and German) are included, in order, and easy to read (many industrial bands forget that the point behind lyric notes is that they can be both interesting to read and legible ... ISC passed the test again).

The opening track and title track is thankfully short. It is literally a circus themed intro ... which is OK once, but if you mix the album with the rest of your collection the track will bring no value. On that note, the album works either as a 45 minute front to back listening experience or as a collection of tracks to be added to your music library. In other words, all the tracks are excellent, but they also are distinctly different enough from each other that no two tracks feel as a repetition of a previous track.

Upon reading the name of my favorite track, "SnowWhite" I thought it was a retelling of the German fairy tale Snow White (Schneewittchen). Nope! It wasn't until the second time that I listened (more closely) that it was a reference to PCP. The track is highly reminiscent of older ISC (Face the Fear era).

Fans l'ame Immortelle and Blutengel styled male / female duets will enjoy "I Surrender", "Schwarzes Licht", "Set Me Free", & "This Is All" which feature both Dennis and Antje Schulz. Antje joined ISC with its 2004 Holy album, and has been a great influence on the band.

Dennis himself is an incredibly talented vocalist, and it is nice when we get to hear his vox in slower pieces. My wish was answered with the first real track "My Despair" and closing track "Golden Gate", which is why I describe Ostermann as the darkwave Billy Idol. (Not only does Dennis have Idol's vocal range, but he also has one of the best stage presences I've seen; I'll encourage you to find some of ISC's videos, they're fantastic!)

There is literally too many great things to write about with respect to this album. It's a solid 5-star album. My recommendation is that you listen to the amazon samples. I did, and immediately ordered the album. I found that while the samples captured the diversity between songs, you can never capture the diversity within a song with a 30-second sample. If you like dynamic music, La Parade Monstrueuse will not disappoint. Male/female vocals, electronics (keys and drums), piano, & guitars are all expertly collected in a one "freak show" worth enjoying again and again!

Recommended Tracks:
* SnowWhite
* I Surrender
* Schwarzes Licht
* One Drop

5.0 out of 5 stars A Carnival of Carnal Delights., May 10, 2011

By 

Jack Wells "Jack Wells" (West Haven, UT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: La Parade Monstrueuse (Audio CD)

A powerful follow up to the subtle but sublime Exile Paradise, ISC's new album La Parade Monstrueuse comes across as a sort of retooling of their ever-evolving sound, veering slightly back towards the heavier territory of their earlier releases. With a new, more robust lineup, coupled with the inclusion of live guitars, La Parade Monstrueuse feels like a more cohesive album, and is better for it. In fact, the only album that I enjoy better than this one is Holy, which to me will always be the pinnacle of ISC's career.

Though there have been a few changes, there are some things you know you can count on with a new ISC album, including strong production values, fantastic artwork, and engaging lyrics. These are all in full effect here, and the bonus CD that comes with the limited edition is the icing on the cake. Featuring 10 additional songs (8 remixes and 2 exclusive tracks), it is a must have for any dedicated fan. Dennis and Antje are in full form on the vocals, and I still feel that Antje is the best thing to happen to ISC. Her vocals add just the right amount of sexy flair to already seductive music. It's like chocolate and strawberries for your ears.

Standout tracks for the album include "Silver Bullets", an awesome high-tempo song about lycanthropy; "Set Me Free", with a strong emphasis on guitars and male/female vocals; "Snow White", a driving and sinister track with twisted electronic breaks; and "I Surrender", again with male/female vocals and sounding like it could have come from the Holy sessions.

Other tracks worthy of mention would be "One Drop", "This Is All" and "Schwarzes Licht".

For those who go for the limited edition, there are several gems on the bonus CD. These include, but are not limited to; "Am Abgrund", an exclusive percussion heavy track sung in German; "Set Me Free" remixed by ASP, which ups the guitars and the attitude; extended versions of "I Surrender" and "I'm A God"; and a sultry and sexy version of "Feelings", originally from the "My Despair" EP.

If you are already a fan of ISC, then this album has probably been in your collection since it was released. Hardcore fanatics (like myself!) who have yet to buy it (shame shame!) will definitely want to drop the extra coin on the limited edition box set. However, for those who are not fans of ISC, this album isn't likely to force a conversion. But if you are into darkwave and/or industrial music, you could do far worse than the carnival that is La Parade Monstrueuse.