MINERVE

Synthpop, you either love it or you run away from it and that pretty much sums up what can be said about Minerve.

Outside of Germany, they're not that known, but they've worked with people who teamed up with bands like Alphaville so you'd guess we're not exactly talking about amateurs.

"Please" is their fourth album and it's the type of album that has something for everybody, at least if you're into synths (and sometimes cheesy pop).

Opener "Hold me tight" is a blast of a start as this song catches the early power Mesh used to have. "Every Day" is actually more futurepop than it's actually synthpop. The futurepop-party doesn't stop there and "Forbidden love" echoes Covenant.

In an ideal world "Down to the ground" should top the charts and "Life is an illusion" is a perfect synthpop ballad that could feature in a John Hughes-movie.

Is it all about glittering gold here? Not exactly, as you'll find some misses here too, especially when they hide the beats in the closet and deliver something like the far too mellow "Save me".

But just at that moment we shrug our shoulders and feet starts dancing again on closing track "Under my skin".

There are much better synthpop albums to be found but "Please" gave us some fantastic moments as well, so nothing to complain about!

Didier BECU
19/07/2011