When darkness meets danceability
“Skin and Bones” sounds to me like a dance with darkness – powerful, cool and full of gloomy elegance.
When I first heard Skin and Bones, it was immediately clear to me: Spire Circle are continuing the consistent path they took with Burning Alive. The title track “Burning Alive” of the EP had already gripped me with its menacing atmosphere and clear, dynamic production. For me, Skin and Bones goes in a very similar direction – but with a slightly different focus.
The sounds are razor-sharp. The EBM-like rhythm in particular gives the track an immediate danceability that immediately took me physically. At the same time, this song remains deeply rooted in dark wave for me. It doesn't come to the fore, but draws its power from a subliminal groove that moves below the surface – like a shadow that never leaves your side.
What I find particularly exciting is the contrast between the almost poppy songwriting and the lo-fi synths that create this oppressive, dark soundscape. Gregg Neville's deep voice adds weight to the whole thing – a dark whisper in a sterile world. The bass lines, played by Dec Sherry, also add a certain harshness that harmonizes well with the rest of the sound.
The only downside for me: the vocal effects are a bit too dominant at times. Less would have been more here – for my taste, Neville's voice doesn't need that much distortion and underlaying effects to be effective.
