DEINE LAKAIEN
KASMODIAH ALBUM CHROM, COLUMBIA RELEASE: APRIL 13, 1999 REVIEW: MAY 22, 1999 
During their thirteen years, the genius and utter beauty of Deine Lakaien have always been their most peculiar sound, brittle melodies and magnificent lyrics. On "Kasmodiah", the band's fifth studio album, everything seems to have sprung in bloom again as the longtime duo has expanded into a quartet. Still drifting between genres, impossible to pinpoint down, vocalist Alexander Veljanov, conductor as well as electronic master Ernst Horst, violinist Christian Komorowski (Das Holz) and multiinstrumentalist Michael Popp (Estampie) have managed to capture the essence of the band's three other albums and have created a worthy heir to the shimmering 1991 masterpiece "Dark Star". The sound on "Kasmodiah" is more modern than ever - sometimes slightly coloured by the bandmember's sideprojects (though without ever losing Deine Lakaien's distinctive touch). The characteristics of the songs shift as usual, but run smoothly after all and the often poetic lyrics and wonderful vocals fit together as hugs and kisses from the beginning till the end. Only once the brilliance almost fades away; in "Lass Mich" suddenly a song appears that doesn't quite match the others. Perhaps someone has said it before, but Deine Lakaien is a true gift to music and so is "Kasmodiah". SUSSI PETTERSSON |
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