These Eyes Before

Collide | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 31, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Noiseplus Music
• ASIN: B002SROLWQ
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,788 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Collide spent the past year putting together this 10 track covers album for your enjoyment, and as usual they are proving to be masters of quality in the results. Those already familiar will know of several cover songs they have done on previous albums in the past, but they have never gone all the way to produce a full on covers album until now. The choices are a mix of classics (Pink Floyd, Beatles, Bowie), modern popular (Depeche Mode, Radiohead) and then also a few less predictable tracks (David Essex, Chris Isaak). The album opens with two quite breathtaking renditions of Pink Floyd s Breathe and then The Moody Blues Nights in White Satin (from where the album takes its title). These two songs were perhaps placed at the frontier to welcome in fans of the band and of the songs without making anyone feel ill at ease with what they were doing as the shoe does indeed fit on both tracks. Finding time to recover from these two accomplishments is not permitted as the album continues through more rock and pop friendly tracks. Of course the merits of their success on each song can be viewed in many ways. Some songs they manage to completely rejuvenate, others sound more familiar to the originals but with another band putting their sound over the top. The Beatles Come Together is a song worth any bands time, but the original equally hard to remove yourself from. Much more of a surprise is their cover of Radiohead s Creep. And I will be honest that I wasn t expecting much from it. I m not the worlds biggest Radiohead fan (nor enemy), and although I like the song Creep it was forced into my youthful ears back when it was released on far too regular a basis by DJ s in every pub, club, bar and student union. Collide have done the magical job of altering the song enough for it to still to sounds like Creep; but significantly different from how you are used to hearing it. And this is why the duo work so well together. Statik works his magician s wand over the sounds and kaRIN lets the words become her own representation of sound. Much more relaxed and subdued is the David Essex cover of Rock On, whilst Depeche Mode could well enter and win a competition for the most covered modern band. Collide take a stab at I Feel You which is a very distinct sounding song (like with Come Together ) that Collide here decide to make very subtle changes in the music while largely following closely to the format of the song. Again it is the two artists putting their own tweaks here and there throughout the song that make it work. A more relaxed fit to the bands vibe is Space Oddity which is perhaps one of the more removed from the original tracks and could be quickly mistaken for their own song if you were to remove the opening oft quoted lines. The vocal work by kaRIN on this track is just perfect with layered backing making the sound much more surreal. Next up is the much more playful Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing which perhaps can be seen as an influence on some of their earlier work. kaRIN get s to get her more moody and punk self out from time to time in this song. Whilst she is still the ethereal mistress of dark subtlety, its nice to see her always checking out new territory and then mastering the mood. It is an intriguing project to listen to as you get an incite into how they approach the songs and also get a good look into what music outside of creating their own makes them tick. The downside to this of course is that their taste in music may not cross over with your own, so as the choices are varied there may well tracks that strikes more of a high notes than others; depending upon how open you are to interpretation. And this is what is so vibrant about this band is their approach to their produce. There are always new ideas shimmering away and every other year we are presented --Glasswerks

A cover...singing someone else's song...it can be a tricky thing. Usually a cover is great or it's just not.Collide can cover a song. This doesn't surprise me. One of old fave songs is "Nights in White Satin". Wow..Karin, Statik...this is genius! It represent the song and it adds an ethereal/goth tone to it that I would never have thought of and it's gorgeous!!! The album is a really nice release for this band. This band has covered a song or two in their career and these songs obviously mean a lot to them...to put their own flair on these songs...made me like these songs even more! Great job Collide! "Creep" is super sick- Karin's vox are dreamy and edgy. --Grave Concerns

After the acclaimed escape under the Secret Meeting wings kaRIN and Statik from Collide are back with a new album. These Eyes Before is a kind of concept featuring 10-cover versions from very famous and international recognized songs. Covering artists like Pink Floyd, David Bowie, The Beatles, Radiohead, Depeche Mode, Fleetwood Mac, The Moody Blues, Chris Isaak and David Essex is quite of a challenge. Collide feels very comfortable with some songs while other ones sound like having been definitely tougher to achieve. But in the end I might say that the band perfectly adapted the original versions. The songs remain all easy recognizable, but the Collide touch is definitely there. I think it s not that easy to work on such famous song while adding your own stamp on it. The two debut songs are definitely well crafted. Breathe fromPink Floyd opening the release is an astonishing cover version with wafting guitar parts, a slow and sensual rhythmic and the sexy vocals of kaRIN. Night In White Satin from The Moody Blues coming next is one of my favorite cuts. I really like the kind of evasive mood reminding me a bit of Hungry Lucy. Another remarkable song is I Feel You from Depeche Mode. This is one of the songs where Collide definitely feels the most comfortable. It all sounds a bit like coming home . The way they covered this Depeche Mode masterpiece in a somewhat darker and floating way is brilliant. A quite surprising cover version is Chris Isaak s Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing . I have to confess I really like Chris Isaak and if you know the original version, you ll have to admit this is not the most easy song to cover. Musical wise it s quite impressive, but Chris Isaak s particular vocals were a bit harder to cover. A very last recommended piece is Comfortably Numb from Pink Floyd (again). This version features impressive atmospheres and outstanding guitar parts. A cover of Pink Floyd is always a big challenge, but it all sounds really easy for Collide. A very last cover I want to pay attention for is Fleetwood Mac s Tusk . Collide here surprises with quite bombastic drum patterns while the guitar parts are once more irresistible. These Eyes Before is an album that will surprise numerous fans of the band and even music lovers who aren t that familiar with Collide! --Side Line

Product Description

These Eyes Before is a collection of classic covers reimagined by Collide. If you re already familiar with Collide, you surely know that the duo s brave, forward-looking electronic sound is deeply grounded in a fusion of diverse influences. Over the years, singer kaRIN and producer Statik have proven themselves to be gifted interpreters as well as courageous innovators. But nothing in the group's history will sufficiently prepare you for These Eyes Before: a set of ten mainstream classics, each one completely reimagined.

Long-time followers of the Collide story will find that These Eyes Before preserves everything they ve always loved about the duo s approach. kaRIN remains a sophisticated and emotionally forthright singer; her interpretations open up new dimensions of meaning in songs you ll swear you already understood exhaustively. Statik's soundscapes are as lush and hypnotic as ever his synthesizer sounds and enveloping, his drum programming is adventurous, and the guitar work is alternately seductive and saw-toothed.

Collide has already taken its place as one of the worlds foremost and best-loved electro-alternative bands, and introduced the delights of darkwave to countless listeners; These Eyes Before further demonstrates that there s no limitation on the expressiveness of their sound.

stereospectacular!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Sound; An Instant Classic, November 10, 2009

By 

Michael A. Ventarola "mavjb" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: These Eyes Before (Audio CD)

For some time, Collide has remained below the mainstream radar, yet they have successfully crafted a musical career that has had their work featured in films and on Demand cable video's. Lead singer kaRin also maintains a high quality internet shop called Saints & Sinners, which even features specially crafted fragrances for men and women among some of the other great merchandise offered.

Prior to this release, those on the band's email list were able to watch the video footage of the photo shoot. Enchantress kaRin makes the final product always look so effortless, yet the video voyeur that we were able to participate in demonstrated that this band will ALWAYS take things to the highest level to reach as flawless a level as they can produce. This video clearly demonstrates just how hard this band works to get their art out to the masses.

So what about this new CD? 10 songs of "covers" might make some step back a moment and wonder if it is worth the price. These tracks excel beyond mere cover songs. Statik and kaRin recreated and recrafted these songs to fit the modern electronic dark wave soundtrack of our lives to make them all fresh and vibrant. If one had never heard these songs before, it wouldn't be too difficult to imagine that they were written exclusively for the band.

The beguiling vocals of kaRin glide across the lyrical scale while Statik punctuates each track with enough audio elements to make atoms want to smash in wanton abandon. If anything, this release could be called Collide PLUS because it is clearly a Collide project, but sonically, the band took things up a few more notches. Overall, it is hypnotically trance-like in some parts, seductively danceable and infused with more passion per song than any that have been released this year.

If you are a fan of Collide, then this purchase is a no-brainer. If you are new to the band, you may want to start here to get a feel for their alluring sound that has garnered fans across the globe. Either way, NO collection should be without this release. Highly recommended.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW - Amazing job guys!, November 5, 2009

By 

Stephen Anest (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: These Eyes Before (Audio CD)

Collide has always done an amazing job with their music. When it comes to covering other artists they seem to take it up a few notches and smash it out of the park. I don't think I have heard cover songs done so well by any other artists. Collide makes the songs their own unique experience and put their collide stamp all over it. This comes through on every track. Their creative minds are hard at work and shine brightly on the entire cd. Full, lush, rhythmic songs await your listening pleasure. Why they are not more readily accessible is beyond my comprehension. The "alternative" music I hear on current radio is down right blah compared to that of Collide. Tracks like "I feel you", "Tusk", and "Baby did a bad bad thing" will get you out of your seat and grovin' for sure. Night's in White Satin always kind of sent a shiver down my spine...so did Collides version...the hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end, yes that is a good thing. If you want to help preserve the few excellent, creative bands out there you will run now to order this cd. Not only yourself, but your friends and family as well. Remember the holidays are coming up. CD's make good stocking stuffers. Lets push this band into the next level. They really deserve it for all the years or creative music they have put out. Definitely the best thing I have heard this year.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent covers collection., November 1, 2009

By 

Toastlette "Tori" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: These Eyes Before (Audio CD)

Expertly re-imagined songs, covered with an amazing amount of skill and love. Collide sounds better than ever- and so do these staples of radio playlists.