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THE OPIATES: PRESS COMMENTS
This E.P. is moody, magnificent and decadent - the Nico of the rave generation has returned with a stealth-bomb of a record, with a tranced-out charm of its own."
Ben Wood, Bearded Magazine (U.K. / worldwide)
"The Carpenters of electro… dark, electronic pop: scalpel-sharp lyrical observations juxtaposed with shimmering production to magnetic effect."
Ben Murphy, DJ Magazine (U.K. / worldwide)
"The high priestess of electronic soul… her voice is unmistakable – ridden with drama and soul – sounding like Marlene Dietrich by way of Diamanda Galas."
Gregor Laird, The Skinny (Glasgow magazine)
"A female, modern-day Marc Almond… this E.P. of throbbing electro-disco, torch soul and narcotic pop is awesome."
Jason Riley, I-DJ Magazine (U.K. / worldwide)
"Avant-garde Deutsche diva Billie Ray Martin's sublime vocals and catchy, industrial post-punk disco…"
Keith Barker-Main, Metro newspaper (U.K.)
"Something like Amanda Lear ganging up with Laurie Anderson to kidnap a low-key echo of "The Day Before You Came", an Abba track. Is it any good? Yes, very."
Unpeeled Magazine (U.K. / worldwide)
"Full of soul and emotion… the songs creep into your consciousness and before you know it have taken over your motor functions. Oozing sex with great electro bleeps and an orgasmic vocal delivery… a real success."
Sean Slingsby, Gigwise (online)
"Finally, a return to real angst! Magnificent!"
Mark Moore
"Candy Coated Crime ist die bombe!"
DJ Hell
"A bleep-fest of epic proportions, which really serves as yet another vehicle for Martin's butter-soaked soul…"
Subba-Cultcha (online magazine)
"A glacial quartet of mournful electro-ballads bathed in sumptuous spaciousness. The low slung Marlene Dietrich-pitched vocals are the icing on the cake… this new venture sounds so fresh, unforced and 2008-friendly."
Beatmag.net (online magazine)
"Some beautiful downbeat electronica, with Martin's distinctive voice… from this release, things are looking good."
Beat Surrender (online magazine)
"It's the sound of dance music before the circus came to town."
Electric Roulette (online magazine)
"The Opiates produce a very chilled, yet brain stimulating brand of electro beats mixed in with very soulful vocals. Truly and completely a work of musical mastery."
Paul Richards, Noize Makes Enemies (online magazine)
"Fans of bleepy, ambient stuff, buy this!"
Richard Smith, GT Magazine (U.K. / worldwide)
"I'm sold – enraptured by hearing THAT voice in person. The new sound builds on the classic Electribe 101 template, so there's a definite place for songwriting, but also a dry wit and intelligence you don't often find in the pop charts."
Music Like Dirt (online review of The Opiates live at Rough Trade East)
The Beat surrender (magazine review)
Noize makes enemies (review)
Music like dirt (concert review)
http://beardedmagazine.co.uk/wp/?p=36
Readers of a certain age may remember Billie Ray Martin as the voice behind Electribe 101 and the dance anthem 'Your Loving Arms'. Her latest project The Opiates sees the German chanteuse with the languorous voice collaborate with Norwegian producer Robert Solheim. And she's chosen an appropriate name: this EP is atmospheric, moody and decadent with an air of arty Germanic bleakness.
The softly sung lyrics are ultra-grim, telling tales of traumatised women who aren't really 'there' any more - anaesthetised by money and drugs but emotionally dead. It reminds me of hotel rooms after fashion shows: eating disorders, track-marks, self-harm… the Nico of the rave generation has returned.
Opener 'Anatomy of a Plastic Girl' sets the tone, its downbeat lyrics accompanied by a series of retro synth-pop swooshes, clicks, squelches and beeps. 'You can't say I'm not human' protests some poor pretty piece of meat; while the line "I'm miserable under the pretty shell" is a perfect summation of the EP's lyrical preoccupations. The downtempo feel is an indication that the band started off as an ambient project.
'Oprah's Book of the Month Club (pt2)' tells the story of a little girl lost, lavished with everything except love and attention. "Mamma was beautiful, a mountain of fake hair that would sometimes peak through the bedroom door". Soon our protagonist is going wild on drink and drugs and "selling her roller-skates for an abortion". And an escape to Hollywood only ends in tears…
Dark and dangerous, this is a stealth-bomb of a record with a tranced-out charm of its own. But be warned: it's a grower, and it may first appear to be dull, dated electro-pop. Stick with it…
Ben Wood
The Opiates - 'Anatomy Of A Plastic Girl'
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Electronic duo The Opiates, who are chart topping dance/soul singer Billie Ray Martin and musician/composer Robert Solheim, aim to take electro, combining it with more pop influences to create electronic music that keeps its edge but is accessible to more mainstream audiences. The title track of 'Anatomy Of A Plastic Girl' marries an infectious beat with a melancholy subject matter, detailing a rejection of material values, a lethargic outlook on a showbiz lifestyle. It works superbly with Martin's voice which is full of soul and emotion, and yet captures the cold, dejected sentiment of the song superbly. Combined with the steady, relentless rhythm of the track, it creates a hypnotising effect. The end result is a robotic reaction to the music – foot-tapping, head-nodding, or booty-shaking.
The EP maintains this effect throughout – the songs creep into your consciousness and before you know it have taken over your motor functions. Lyrically, the outlook is often bleak, with lines like "taking her life in her hands / selling her roller skates for an abortion / almost joining the women's movement," which, delivered by Martin and to the backdrop of the sparse, haunting soundscapes are very effective. The highlight of the EP, in terms of a song to get your groove on to, is 'Candy Coated Crime'. Oozing sex, with great electro-bleeps and effects bouncing off each other, and an orgasmic vocal delivery, it's a track that you can't help getting caught up in, that makes the EP a real success.
Released 03/03/08 on Kudos.
Gay Times by Mark B
Fans of bleepy ambient stuff, buy this!
dj hell: gigolo records: candy coated crime ist die bombe!
dj mark moore: finally back to real angst!
electric roulette:
you should take a punt on it. its the sound of dance music before the circus came to town.
idj march:
this ep of throbbing electro disco torch soul and narchotic pop is awsome by the way
soundfires interview:
http://www.soundfires.com/fifteen/11
dj mag:
http://www.djmag.com/index.php?op=story&story_op=display&story_id=1257&status=Live&word=&page=
Electric Roulette review:
International DJ review
