Customer Reviews

Voices & Images

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A lot of people jibe about how Camouflage just tries to be like Depeche Mode. While Camouflage's sound can only be described as DM-esque this album has a very different sound than that of DM if you stop to really listen to more than just effect. That being said if you had to compare Depeche Mode would still be the superior songwriters, however Camouflage has a style and structure that sets them apart from their apparent peers. This music I suppose can be called industial/techno, however it's a bit lighter than the hard-edged industrial groups of the day like Bigod 20, Nitzer Ebb or Ministry. So yeah... Depeche Mode kind of industrial/techno.

Voices and Images probably is their most well defined album in regards to the genre. The music is straight electronic of that day and anybody who's into that genre can appreciate this album. The beats are solid and punchy. The synths are a combination of hard syncopation and breathy voxes. The lyrics are thoughful and have an edge of social commentary on them. No superficial lyrics or fluffy love songs in here, but that's a good. It's always refreshing to broaden your scope.

Anybody who clubbed in the late 80's knows THE GREAT COMMANDMENT. Definitely a great song that epitomizes the Voices and Images sound. While I find many times the "hits" of an artist aren't always their best work I would be hard pressed to say that here. TGC combines a tight beat with opposing bass lines and the Camouflage "vox" sound along with those lyrics I mentioned. Probably the best representation of the band.

THAT SMILING FACE is a very nice song that's laid back as well as dancey. This one was also considered a hit in Europe, but I don't recall ever hearing it broadcast in the states (much to my chagrin). The CD version is a little different from the cassette/vinyl version as they add some record static at the beginning along with a giggle from Marcus (apparently they enjoyed going to digital).

STRANGER THOUGHTS is a really good song too. The beat gets broken up and sparse during the verses but the way it all falls together in the choruses really give this song a lot of energy. I consider the chorus of this song the best in the album... something you'll either want to sing along with or just soak up.

WINNER TAKES NOTHING is a great song in a wierd way. It has a freaked out Eastern sound to it and the beat seems to go all over the place, but you can still dance to it. This song might not be for everybody due to it's... um... originality. But man. What a ride!

MUSIC FOR BALLERINAS and I ONCE HAD A DREAM are really nice, laid back songs. BALLERINAS is more uplifting and ambient. Something to watch a sunset by. DREAM is more like an industrial sad song done in an industrial waltz pattern. I know that sounds odd, but trust me. It works. Both are good songs.

POMPEJI is another bonus that was never on vinyl or cassette. It was actually a B-Side for The Great Commandment 12" remix album. It's moody like I ONCE HAD A DREAM, but much more brooding and dark. It's also the most ambient track on the CD. A definite treat in my book.

The songs I didn't mention range between "still pretty good" to "just okay" in my opinion. THEY CATCH SECRETS is probably the least of the songs. I think it was a B-side for That Smiling Face 12", but I can't be sure. Anyway if you liked The Great Commandment back in the 80's then you'll love this album. If you like that classic industrial/techno sound similar to Depeche Mode this is also a winner for you too.

I recently listened to this album out of curiosity for the first time, not knowing what to expect. It was recommended to me for being a DM fan. I was BLOWN AWAY! I love this CD!
In my opinion, it's everything good music shoud be.
Poetic, Artistic, political, mysterious and all delivered in a sleek, cool, ambiguous package. Anyone who likes new wave or electronic definitely has to add this to their collection.

You'll hear and read Camouflage referenced quite often. And for good reason too. While some will call Camo a DM ripoff this is not completely true. Sure there are obvious similarities but this album will make you realize that Camo probably got a little darker than DM usually liked to go up to that point in time (although that changed later on DM's masterful 'Black Celebration'). I also think that this German act had a sound that would dominate you more than Depeche or Erasure ever did. The monumental "The Great Commandment" just seems to take control of your body and force you to pump your feet. This actually was a harbinger of what would later become electro industrial which is where this song would likely be categorized if it were released today. TGC is obviously the main reason to own this album thouhg there are some other solid songs along with some weak ones.

MY FAVORITE ALBUM EVER!!!
FORGET THE COMPARISONS TO DEPECHE MODE, CAMOUFLAGE HOLD THEIR OWN. GREAT VOCALS, MELODIES AND LYRICS.

Like Kraftwerk, Camouflage weave perfectionist synth songs with incredible moving melodies and beauty! This release has to rank up there with the very best electronic/synth music EVER! The songs are tight as tight can be, and the vocals just gorgeous (their German accents are 'like buttah', only adding to the mix) and perfect for this masterpiece. Run, do not walk, to your local music outlet to pick this one up, as it should go down as a top ten electronic/synth release of all time!

For a group just starting out this was an amazing debut record. I was first introduced to Camouflage after hearing the song "The Great Commandment" on none other than MTV. I went out and bought the album and was astonished. There have so many times when a band will put out one album in their career and not ever produce anything else after. In the case of Camouflage, though they were never very big here in the U.S.A., they put out three more albums after "Voices and Images". Camouflage do much collaborating with other fellow Germans known as TELEX. Three guys; Marcus Meyn, Oliver Kreyssig and Heiko Maile with a great synth sound. My favorite track on this album is "That Smiling Face" which leads off the album. Some other fantastic songs on here are the message sending "Helpless Helpless", the controversial "Neighbours" the haunting "I Once Had A Dream" and of course the BIG hit "The Great Commandment". When you listen to this album beginning to end you definitely feel satisfied with the musical results. Check out their second album also entitled "Methods Of Silence".

As the three friends Marcus Meyn, Heiko Maile and Oliver Kreyssig 1986 with a talent-competition of the Hessian radio with their demo-tape "Voices & Images" the first place covered and had a record-contract in the bag with it, nobody still suspected that exactly the three young nice talented musicians would land a giant-hit once. It should last another scarce year with the first single however. An original-version of "The Great Commandment" existed already 1986. At that time under the title "Suddenly Went Away". In the Dynaton studio in Weiterstadt, the song was processed and mixed additionally under the direction of Axel Henninger. The title originated: "The Great Commandment". Although these song get the text remained. At the 16th August 1987 was Camouflage musical guest in the ARD-Program "Spruchreif". The demand was now enormous. In September 1987, the debut-single "The Great Commandment" was finally published. This song was on the demo-tape "Voices & Images" doesn't contain. Pieces however other for it, that then also on the same-named debut-album "Voices & Images" present was, now including "The Great Commandment". This the first single not the only hit was, proved Camouflage impressively. In February 1988, the second single "Strangers Thoughts" appeared to and in March this after the demo-tape named debut-album "Voices & Images". The 12 songs on the CD bribe through critical, romantic and honest lyrics, that again-mirror the moods through the wonderful melodies incomparably. "That Smiling Face", "Neighbours", "From Ay To Bee", "Where Has The Childhood Gone" and "I Once Had A Dream" participates only some pearls of this beautiful first album. Differently than a contract was completed in Germany after the import of the German Maxi-CD of "The Great Commandment" with Atlantic Records, a Warner Music Company. It became several Promos as Vinyl and CD released afterwards. With very big success. Above all the radio-stations stirred up one downright synthie-pop-fever like Camouflage-Music. The wage: burst 1 in the Billboard Dance Charts! And the equally two times! An absolute novelty until today! On these U.S.-Promos and U.S.-Maxi-CDs, new producers participated, created mixes and special-versions new, even greater! And these sound truly pointed! It participates only unfortunate that there was never this extravagant mix in Germany. "That Smiling Face" was published as succession-single. Additional promo-CDs released became also here. With renewed success! Consequently, the way was smoothed also for the American market to the debut-album. Great!!!

"The Great Commandment" got me into this band. Being a fan of electronic music, I accepted long ago that even though the Depeche Mode influences can be heard in a lot of synth groups, each one has its own savoir-faire so to speak. Not every tune is a hit here, but there are enough good ones to check out. "That Smiling Face" and "Winner Takes Nothing" are a couple high points, there are others... It's interesting to listen to the nuances between British synth and say, German synth, a la Camouflage. Everybody's got a different interpretation and that is cool.

De/Vision is another fantastic German group I recommend...

This is one of the most underrated records from the eighties. It's kind of Depeche Mode meets New Order. It's not totally necessary, it's not disposable. It a great deal if you're looking for interesting music done in that decade.

Just thought I'd say that this is one band who shouldn't have been overlooked like it was. Voices & Images and Methods of Silence are great CDs not to be missed. The others I never got into...but maybe I should.