Today, LETTEN 94 released their debut single Empty Landscapes as well as the self-titled music video (via Cold Transmission).
LETTEN 94 is a coldwave duo based in Jura. According to their comments, they have two situations of the past as inspirational starting point to compose their music. The first one is a mental image of Letten and its dystopian landscape immersed in the drug scene in Zurich in the mid-90s. And the second one is Europe in the aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The sound is sometimes aggressive and syncopated, sometimes dark and mysterious. The guitar, putting into relief the railway-inspired rhythms of Van Ballast, commemorates the post-punk movement, while the deep and haunting voice of Dolorès prepares listeners for the clearly nihilist tone of their creations.
Empty Landscapes is a solid production in the composition as well as in the interpretation. Starting with the intro and the captivating first verses, the ambiance is enjoyably cold, synthetic and minimalistic. Until singer Dolorès’ chorus deconstructs them with her deep voice and a touch of soul and melody, creating a very interesting contrast in the song structure (AABAB), and that in harmony with the precise flow of the synth and guitar lines to the end. A great and very promising debut single!
Listen to “Empty Landscapes” and “Red Lights Soft Skins” below:
Artist: LETTEN 94
Lead Vocals, Guitar: Dolorès
Synths, Backing Vocals: Freddy Van Ballast
Canton: Jura
Title: Empty Landscapes
Style: Coldwave, Darkwave
Elements: Post-Punk, Minimal Wave
Format: Digital, Single
Release: 23 July 2021
Label: Cold Transmission Music (GER)
Produced by: LETTEN 94 and Remove
Mixed and mastered by: Remove
Recorded at: Collectif Glaucal
For fans of: Boy Harsher, The KVB…
[+] Here you may also like: Lebanon Hanover, Blanche Biau…
Comment: Solid and mature production makes one forget that it’s their first single.
Although for many people Swiss landscapes may seem or be pretty and picturesque. For other people they can also be empty, cold (or suicidal – Michael Sele). It’s a matter of the observer’s subjective perception. Watch below Dolorès and Freddy’s perception through the lens of Normotone’s perspective.
Video Director: Normotone
Assistant Director: Amélie Dupré
Operations Assistant: Zoé Scrima
