Review: Die Krupps – Songs From The Dark Side Of Heaven (2021) 

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Die Krupps is a German industrial metal/EBM band, formed in 1980 whose core members remain Jürgen Engler and Ralf Dörper and various cohorts they add to the mix. As the recent worldwide pandemic took hold, musicians and friends of the band were dying, the idea of a covers album come together as tribute to musicians who recently passed away and those long gone. Hence, we have `Songs From The Dark Side Of Heaven`

The album kicks off with a reimagining of `The Number One Song In Heaven` a cover of American pop and rock duo Sparks formed by brothers Ron and Russell Mael. A much faster paced version which has a wonderful quite remote texture. The song was the inspiration for the name of the album. We are treated to a delightful take on `Chinese Black` a number originally by The Neon Judgement, a new wave band, formed in Leuven, Belgian in 1981 by Dirk Da Davo and TB Frank. They have often been cited, alongside fellow Belgian band Front 242, as the pioneers of electronic body music. It`s a faithful version although much more powerful but retaining that gentle vocal delivery. The addition of Jyrki 69 (Jyrki Pekka Emil Linnankivi), the lead vocalist of the Finnish gothic rock band The 69 Eyes is a stroke of genius. His rich bass voice, similar to the sadly departed Peter Steele of Type O Negative is the perfect foil to Jürgens.

The 1980 Devo classic ‘Whip It’ gets the Die Krupps treatment, a more electronic version but still retaining that underlying sense of humour. A wonderful tribute to Bob Casale, one of the founders of Devo who passed away in 2014. A song that I have asked to be played at my funeral follows with ‘Don’t Fear The Reaper’ originally by Blue Öyster Cult. The band have James Williamson of Iggy Pop and The Stooges guesting on it and it`s a cracking fast paced version, which also has that mid song guitar solo with the only thing lacking being the cowbell.

Gang Of Four’s Andy Gill may well have been an early victim of the Covid-19 pandemic and the band honour him with a version of ‘To Hell With Poverty’, with Big Paul Ferguson of Killing Joke on drums. The tribal drumming really adds bite to this political post punk dance tune. Sadly, the amazing Dave Greenfield of The Stranglers was another casualty of this disease and the group give ‘No More Heroes’ a work over with Ross The Boss from Manowar and The Dictators on guitar.

A song I wouldn`t have expected comes with Freddie Mercury and Queen`s ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ but it gets a real EBM transformation that brings new life to this forty year old number. Marilyn Dreams was originally by B-Movie, an early eighties English synthpop, new wave outfit. I loved the original but have to say this slower version knocks it into the shade. It`s a number that Jürgen`s voice is made for and he hits this one out of the park.

Again it`s shocking to realise that Francis John Tovey otherwise known as Fad Gadget, the British avant-garde electronic musician and vocalist left us nearly twenty years ago, but we have a wonderfully faithful version of ‘Collapsing New People’. The album closes with New York (Version 9/11) a song originally by MCL (Micro Chip League) back in the nineties. I have to admit, I’d never heard of it but with the wonders of the internet I soon rectified that. There are a number of versions and this is up there with the best of them.

I have to admit I usually run a mile from covers albums but a quick glance at what was on offer here and I thought I’ll have to have a listen to this and i`m so glad I did. It`s a cracker. Jürgen Engler has stated that It was important to make this album, to have used the time of the pandemic to produce something that helped him and hopefully will also give the listeners something. He has shared that it`s a memory of good times, the anticipation of future concerts, and the hope that things will soon go on as usual. Let`s hope so. Until then this will hopefully fill the gap.

 Rating 9 /10

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