Album Review // 2023-02-04
Leipa
Reue
Released: 2023-01-13
I have just recently discovered Leipa. A newer band, with Reue being only their second release. The man who has created all aspects of this music goes by the name Noise. He is masked to hide his identity. I guess in a sense it removes anyone's preconceived ideas about someone by just looking at them, or even knowing other projects he has been a part of. Though we do know he has had other projects. Who is he? Does it matter?
As far as I can tell, Leipa means labour, which incites thoughts of something requiring lots of effort.
Reue means regret, in English. A great name for an album. Everyone can understand regret. I think you are deceiving yourself if you don't feel regret to some degree.
I heard 01.09.2015 when it was released and wanted to take some time to listen to this whole album. Now that I have given it my full attention, I feel ready to share my thoughts.
Album Art
I like this artwork. Limited colours. The shades of yellow and orange in the background make the darker colours in the forefront stand out. I think it portrays a defeated stance, but not completely. Though the skeleton in the middle is still sitting in a heap of bones, it is existing. It seems there are other bone pieces that have been able to stay present.
Mood
I find the way the guitar is played against the drums in intros leading up to the main song reminds me of walking through deep snow in a storm. Each step is slow. As the music gets faster, your heart is pounding harder as you work to break through the heavy snow. As it slows down, you stop and take some deep breaths, telling yourself you can catch your breath and keep going (yes, I have had this kind of experience in snow up to my waist). The music, however, ends in your death. So, though there were times when you moved forward and times when you had to rest, you didn't make it all the way on your journey. The mood recognizes the fight.
Vocals
From the first song I heard on this album, the vocal just made sense to me. As I proceeded to listen to the whole album (many times through), I thought it was something I don't like on its own, but why do I like it in this music? I think it is very passionate, the enunciation fits the music, and it has a bit of shrillness, at times, that gives it that sound we have come to expect. At the same time, I feel like I can pick it out in a crowd, so it isn't just an exact replica of another vocalist. And of course, those cries in the opening song that literally sound like someone losing it, for real, isn't something I want to see overdone, but the little bit it was used here seems authentic. The same goes for the talking parts. The background vocal, when looking at it on its own, seems odd, but when it is put in a song such as Fremdkorper, it fits in. I didn't even notice it until my third time listening to the album, it melded so well.
Music
This music is easy for me to get into. The overall fast-paced drums (thank you, kick drum) keep me happy, but they also know how to change it up and slow it down. I like that it isn't wall-to-wall blast-beat drumming. The softer parts add dynamics and contrast, and aren't afraid of welcoming the moment. The harsh-against-soft set a mood of rising above what is hard, acknowledging sadness, but using it to move forward.
The melodies played against the drums draw me in. I like the way the melodies are built upon, adding depth and layers throughout the songs. The guitar effects create a great tone.
I don't find the songs to be overly predictable, which is pleasant for me. I also find the music has a wrap-around effect around the vocal, holding it, rather than forcing itself in.
Lyrics
I don't listen to music that isn't English unless it really catches my attention and feels worth digging into the lyrics and even having to translate them into English. Unfortunately, I only know English and a bit of French. This band was worth it.
01.09.2015
Obviously, something life-altering happened on this date. It literally changed who he was and how he viewed himself. I think we do have those defining moments in life. We can't go back.
The first of September
Two thousand and fifteen
The ones to come
Years tore me to pieces
And now I stand in front of myself
Don't recognize myself
Still a human being
But completely disfigured
Fremdkörper (Foreign Body)
I understand feeling like no one understands you; often people truly don't. You avoid people because it feels like they see something different when they look at you. We can't see what others are feeling.
Twisted emotions
Never inserted me
A mask on
It's appearances that deceive
People never understood
Speak my own language
Feel like a foreign body
When I venture outside
Reue
This is really embodying regret and letting it define you. It never leaves you, never lets go.
No regrets
No regrets
Regret
Regret
Regret
Regret
The words you should have said
The questions you should have asked
The love you should have given
The deeds you could have done
And you are ready to die
Your last hour is near and do you look back in joy and happiness or do you go to your grave with regrets
Tier
It seems like emotions have been turned inwards instead of outwards. Our society teaches that we are bad if we feel negative or even disagree with someone, or have some kind of conflict. It creates the perfect situation to turn pain inwards and never let it out.
It eats through me
No skin, just bare bones
It feeds on the hate, the fear
That intertwined with grief
When the last mechanism falls
And the beast fought through me
Then I'll let it loose on this world
Guilt-free and uninhibited
Abgang (Departure)
As the title of the song indicates, this is accepting your death, or even maybe your defeat in a moment. Truly one of the worst moments of losing someone is when they are put in the ground in front of your eyes.
And when I then die, broken and old
When please bury the bones in the forest
When I'm finally erased from the earth
The witness of the departure, a murmur in the wind
They sing me one last song in farewell
As I am hoisted down
The voices are delighted
Schlaf (Sleep)
This song - somehow - seems peaceful. Warmth is returning, and you aren't filled with regret. I would like to envision that that is what death (or sleep, as it is seen in this song) is like.
Any regrets
Dissipate in the mist
Feel the warmth
That love kindles
And I cover myself with the coat of hair of the stars
Ensnared by the cool light that falls on me from the night sky
The earth, she sings
A roaring wave
In the clouds outlined
In the nocturnal glow
Sleep now
Rauch
I didn't know this, but rauch is a dangerous vapour. It is very fitting for this song, as it seems to be about the actual cremation of the author. The vapour that is left might be considered toxic in a sense, but I think it is an illustration of what is left over after death. In this case, a song was made and can be remembered. Is what's left after you are gone dangerous, or cathartic?
Reduced to smoke
That drifts out the window
Used and consumed
As I lie in the ashes
Reduced to nothing
No tongue strikes my name
And the embers are extinguished
As they carry me to the grave
There's only one reason
That drives me to create
It's my last wish
That something of me stays
Playlist Picks
Thoroughly enjoyed this album! It was hard to choose which songs to put on my playlist.
Reue feels really dynamic and well put together. Beautiful!
Schlaf will make it to my playlist. It is memorable and the atmosphere is soothing. I really like the guitar tone and riff.
Readers' Average Rating