“Cinematic in slow-mo” through the electronic darkness
Right from the very first notes of “Fear Not” by the US band Before After Again, I’m gripped by dry beats and crisp sounds that create an extremely cool, danceable vibe. I find the vocals haunting and wonderfully clear, and combined with the fantastic lyrics, it works brilliantly for me. As soon as the chorus kicks in, the song brightens up with various bright bell-like tones. The melody is almost playful, even naive, which provides a great contrast to the otherwise rather aggressive underlying mood.
Although I don’t notice any direct lyrical references to the Depeche Mode catalogue, the stylistic and thematic DNA is unmistakable to me. The blend of voyeuristic observation, religious-sounding guilt (‘blame’, ‘flame’), carnal suffering (‘bones, flesh’) and the cool, electronic aesthetic practically screams Martin L. Gore’s signature style; one inevitably thinks of tracks like ‘Halo’, ‘Stripped’ or ‘In Your Room’ .
Listen to "Before After Again – Fear Not" on Spotify
Listen to "Before After Again – Fear Not" on Bandcamp
Lyrics of "Before After Again – Fear Not"
Fear not
Broken and borrowed
Come down
No one to follow
Choke down
All you can swallow
I know
It’s not what you want now
Cinematic in slow-mo
Flashing lights as she falls down
Cinematic in slow-mo
Flashing lights as she falls down
Locked up
Can’t find the keys to
Your heart
It aches while
It bleeds through
Gentle touch
On the shoulder
Bones, flesh
Are all you can feel now
Hold on
Mouth to the flame
She cares not
Who is to blame now
Lights out
Tears on the pillow
Find out
There’s no tomorrow
Cinematic in slow-mo
Flashing lights as she falls down
Cinematic in slow-mo
Flashing lights as she falls down
