Disco de Death in June: “Take Care and Control”

This is another great CD from Death in June. Musicaly, this is a different approach than the last two releases, but it still keeps the same type of feel that all Death in June releases have. The use of orchestral samples, and other instruments gives each song its own unique feel. All the songs are enjoyable on the first listening and they are easily recognizable on the second or third listen. There are so many subtle things about the music that makes it almost perfect; for example the sampled song at the end of "Smashed to Bits", and the smashing glass in "November Men". If you like DIJ songs like "Torture Garden", "Crush My Soul" or songs from Wall of Sacrafice you will definately enjoy this CD.

Do not expect another "But What Ends When the Symbols Shatter?" or "Rose Clouds of Holocaust". At the same time though, anyone that says this doesn't sound like DiJ should go back and listen to "The Wall of Sacrifice"...

Now that I've prefaced the actual review, I have to say this is by far the best DiJ to date. In spite of the obvious soundscape influence, this CD has a breadth of power, impact, mood and atmosphere that hasn't been seen by DiJ for quite awhile, ranging from the fury of "Smashed to Bits" to the haunting "November Men", and everything in between. The music is comprised of symphonic loops, sound clips, traditional instruments and of course Douglas's near monotone voice, wholly engaging and at the same time giving the power of the lyrics over to mere inflection or the very words themselves.

I was majorly dissapointed when I heard this new approach.I'm a huge fan of the approach of the last few albums-militaristic acoustic guitar folk-and was put off by the soundscapy nature of TAKE CARE.......

This is the best album for Death In June in years, and whether I like most of the songs or not on Take Care... is beside the point. This band's power lies in its newness and experimentation of sound, which, after their dull Rose Clouds... album, I was glad to see them back to a destructuring of music.

Not to say that there aren't single masterpieces on this disc, but the album taken as a whole is much more satisfying than picking out the best songs, then comparing them to others on the same album.

All in all, Take Care... let's me believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel at what could have been a less than climatic end to one of the most unique bands in the world.

I'm pretty sure my problem with this release is solidly in the realm of Albin Julius. I've never been a fan of The Moon Lay Hidden Beneath a Cloud, and since all things DiJ up to this point have been wondrous, it's gotta be Albin, right?

Not to say there's nothing good about this. Cirro Massimo has a nice, hypnotic feel to it, composed of nothing but what sounds like a loop of the soundtrack to Triumph des Willens, and most of the instrumental work on here has that patented Death in June "yes, I really AM more mournful than you" feel to it, but it just doesn't click the same way that earlier releases do.