tempobet yeni adresi
like this cassette review

24/02/2013 : PARADE GROUND - A ROOM WITH A VIEW

PARADE GROUND

A ROOM WITH A VIEW

MusicCassette
Synth Pop / Electro Pop

[99/100]   

Other Voices Records
24/02/2013, Didier BECU

We’re living in a strange world. In an ideal world people should kiss the feet from Pierre and Jean-Marc Pauly. Not because these brothers are fond of foot fetishism (at least I’m not aware of it), but simply because together they form Parade Ground, the best Belgian band ever. Or do I have to change this into “one of the best bands in the world”? Yes, not only does it sound better this way, it’s also closer to the truth.

And yet, despite all these great words, they’re also the most ignored band from this country (or if you want, from the world). We don’t want to repeat their history in every review we’re writing, but the world needs to know that these two guys were involved in the early history of Front 242 (and so they’re also responsible for the EBM-sound).

Pierre and Jean-Marc went their own way. In the 80’s they created the most strange synthpop you can think of. I personally love to describe their sound as schizophrenic synthpop with a suicidal twist and an inner voice tells me I’m on the right track.

The band still exists (you’ll soon read an interview in our pages) but somewhere they’re the victims of their own ingenuity as people always go back to their early recordings. After the release of their second (unreleased) album on Dirk Ivens’ label Minimal Maximal, we dive a bit deeper into the cellar of the Pauly-family. A Room With A View is a tape (yes, a tape!) released on the Russian label Other Voices Records. The tape features eight tracks which were recorded at the Light Studios in Brussels in 1998.

In all honesty, it really makes me sad that these eight gems are released on some tape (not even mentioning that it’s limited to 50 copies) as this deserves so much better. But then again, someone bothers to release it, so why complain?

The eight songs have the typical Parade Ground-sound of the 80’s. The core of the songs is quite poppy (there’s even a Depeche Modes-touch in it), but the boys destroy the pop by adding their twisted minds to it. There’s the imperfect (but astonishing) voice from Jean-Marc and those weird synths.

A Room With A View sounds like the greatest hits which they unfortunately never had, while the irresistible Conquerors is added with that typical Wire-sound. Crying Over Them is simply one of the best new wave classics you’ll ever hear. Miss Ivory Girl the most beautiful anthem an ivory girl (whatever that is!) can think of, while Me In My Love is a minimal wave-pearl.

A Room With A View is a collection of eight splendid pop songs. Tunes that are created to smash your head against the wall. Pop for people who hate pop.

Unmissable, but just remember that there are only 50 copies of this tape in the world.

Didier BECU
24/02/2013


Music reviews

09
10
NERO/GRIS
Silenci
07
10
SUBATOMIC STRANGERS
Resuwrecked
01
10
BLOKKONTROLL
I-II-III
28
09
SUNSHINE BLIND
Scarred but Fearless
27
09
DARK MINIMAL PROJECT
Pleasure Is A Sin
26
09
PROMENADE CINEMA
Afterlife

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

NEWS

14
10
43 years of “Wahre Arbeit, Wahrer Lohn” by Die Krupps: A Blueprint for Industrial Resistance
09
10
Baby Turns Blue and 43 today!
03
10
BIMFEST XXIII – 2026 - Full Line-Up Announced!
28
09
De Delvers announces third full-lenght album 'Zwarte Siroop'
27
09
CURSE MACKEY Unveils ‘Imaginary Enemies’, A Darkwave Descent Into Grief & Revelation
25
09
Today, exactly 38 years ago The Klinik released 'Plague'!

Concert reviews

17
08
KRAFTWERK
Royal Palace Open Air - Brussels - August 14 2025
22
04
GAVIN FRIDAY
Live at 404 / De Vooruit - Ghent - 01/04.2025
28
11
BELGIAN ELECTROWAVE IS NOT DEAD 3
Belgian ElectroWave Is Not Dead 3

GET A COPY OF OUR MAGAZINE
SEND TO YOUR HOME

INTERVIEWS

27
09
CORPUS DELICTI
''All is quiet, the motion's cold. I face the wind as I'm taking the road.''
18
09
WHISPERS IN THE SHADOW
This album isn’t about bashing religion and faith. That would be a pretty cheap trick.
17
09
ZWAREMACHINE
We were able to secure the support slot for Front 242. Everything was looking positive until Bas’s cancer reemerged and there were complications.
27
08
BEAUTIFUL FREAKIN' WEIRDO
An Interview With UK Industrial Metal Act, Beautiful Freakin' Weirdo
29
07
EX-VOTO
“Decisions. In a modern time. Transmissions. From the inner mind.“

PHOTOS

21
09
KRUPPS
Kulttempel Oberhausen
12
09
ULTRA SUNN
De Casino St Niklaas
12
09
ULTRA SUNN
De Casino St Niklaas
08
09
AUX ANIMAUX SUPPORT SHE PAST AWAY
Kulttempel Oberhausen
07
09
SHE PAST AWAY
Kulttempel Oberhausen
17
08
NEW MODEL ARMY
Summerkultur Dinslaken
23
07
DUCTAPE
Amphi Festival Keulen

ADVERTISE
IN PEEK-A-BOO

VIDEO CLIPS

17
10
ZANIAS
Unseen (Official Video)
16
10
DOPE
Blood Money
15
10
SOFT CELL
Martin (The Hacker 2025 Remix)
14
10
DARK MINIMAL PROJECT
Schlafen !
13
10
PEAK FLOW
Don't Die In Your Sleep (Remix)
13
10
CRASH COURSE IN SCIENCE
Flying Turns (Live @ BIM 2009)
12
10
COCTEAU TWINS
Hazel