En av Felix Marcs stora styrkor har alltid varit hans välskrivna och smarta låttexter. I mitt personliga favoritspår “Lost in Grace” sörjer han en förlorad medmänsklighet, i en upp- och nedvänd värld där ingenting verkar vara som det borde. Låten i sig påminner förvisso om en hel del av det  han gjort tidigare, men den stilrena produktionen och slagkraftiga refrängen är svåra att värja sig emot. Den är en medryckande och väl framförd modern mörk synthpoppärla, som både visar upp Felix goda låtskrivarkunskaper som stora skicklighet när kommer till att komponera starka melodier.

Jag uppskattar i stort att Substance är mer varierad och dynamisk än på det förra albumet Alternative Facts (2017), även om syntharjäveln i mig av naturliga skäl lätt fastnar vid de mer elektroniska inslagen. Som den synthpianoledda “Vertigo” och de mer generiskt elektroniska låtarna som, tillsammans med starka refränger och rena tydliga synthslingor, bjuder in till allsång i “Omen” och “Satellites”. Men om jag, för en kort stund släpper taget om min förkärlek till det rent elektroniska och lyssnar lite närmare på de övriga låtarna, så har jag väldigt svårt att finna några direkta svagheter även om albumet innehåller tendenser av upprepning.

På Substance visar Felix Marc tydligt att han vill vidareutveckla sin musik. Albumet är ett väl genomfört hantverk, som garanterat lär uppskattas av många, även utanför den stora skaran av de redan invigda. Nämnvärt är också att Felix har lyckats med ytterligare ett intressant samarbete med sångerskan Lis Van Der Akker, som även gästspelade på Felix Marcs andra soloalbum Parallel Worlds (2011). De båda gör en fin insats på covern av den Amerikanske singer-songwritern Peter Kingsbearys låt “The Promises You Made”.

Felix Marc levererar just nu bäst på egen hand.

Tracklist

01. Totem (04:41)
02. Substance (05:02)
03. Our Time (03:36)
04. The Promise You Made (04:12)
05. Lost In Grace (05:50)
06. New Waves (06:07)
07. Vertigo (03:40)
08. To The World (03:49)
09. Omen (03:50)
10. Satellites (03:59)
11. The Fortress (03:38)
12. Getout (03:26)

(English version below)

Felix Marc currently delivers the best on his own.

When Depeche Mode frontman and lead vocalist Dave Gahan, in a TV-interview around the time of the release of his first solo album, got the comment, “But, this sounds like Depeche Mode..”, the answer he delivered was obviously, “Well, that is my voice..”.

The connection between this anecdote and Felix Marc‘s solo work is quite logical. Because, when it comes to Felix‘ involvement in the futurepop act Frozen Plasma and the darkwave constellation Diorama and his significant vocal style and voice, it is easy to point fingers on the obvious similarities.

But on Felix Marc‘s fourth solo effort Substance, it seems that he, at least initially, has had some intention to choose a slightly different path. The album starts, somewhat surprisingly, with the two beautiful and well-composed ballads “Totem” and (the title track) “Substance”. Both songs are framed in an airy, dynamic arrangement with elements of both acoustic guitar and piano. First when the pace is raised with the help of the smashing pads and the danceable rhythms on the third track “Our Time” one begins to recognize himself properly.

One of Felix Marc‘s great strengths has always been his well-written and clever lyrics. In my personal favorite track “Lost in Grace” he mourns a lost humanity in a world turned upside down where nothing seems to be like it should. The song itself certainly reminds of a lot of what he has done before, but the classy production and its powerful chorus are difficult to defend yourself against. It is a captivating and well-presented modern dark synth pop gem, that shows both Felix’ great songwriting- aswell as great skills when it comes to composing strong melodies.

I greatly appreciate that Substance is more varied and dynamic than on the previous album Alternative Facts (2017), although the electro-head inside me naturally sticks to the more electronic elements. Like the synth piano led “Vertigo” and the more generic electronic songs that, together with strong choruses and pure and clean lead synths, strongly invites everyone to sing along in “Omen” and “Satellites”. But if, for a short moment, manage let go of my fondness for the purely electronic and listen a little more closely to the other songs, I find it very difficult to find any direct weaknesses even if the album contains tendencies of repetition.

On Substance, Felix Marc clearly shows that he wants to further develop his music. The album is a well-executed work of art, which will surely be appreciated by many, even outside the large crowd of the already inaugurated. It is also noteworthy that Felix has succeeded with another interesting collaboration with the singer Lis Van Der Akker, who also made a guest appearance on Felix Marc‘s second studio effort Parallel Worlds back in 2011. They both make a great effort on this cover version of the American singer-songwriter Peter Kingsbeary‘s song “The Promises You Made”.

Felix Marc currently delivers the best on his own.