Album Review: Led Er Est - The Diver

Led Er Est
The Diver
Rating: Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It

Truly, I can't imagine an artist not wanting their work to reach the biggest possible audience; if not, then what is the point of putting one of your creations out for public consumption? I'm not implying that an artist need dumb their work down for it to become popular, but there is always going to be that push and pull between doing what you want and making things more accessible. I can only imagine the arguments and intense discussions had between the three members of NYC cold wave/synth pop fusionists Led Er Est. Their influences are readily apparent; the dark, minimal synth stylings of Coil, Cabaret Voltaire, and The Normal bump up against the rush of poppier synth bands like Depeche Mode, Human League, and Soft Cell. This dichotomy is what makes their second album The Diver so fascinating, but also sometimes frustrating. At times there is the perfect amount of experimentation mixed with a pop sensibility, but often this is marred by tracks that indulge a little too much in goth navel gazing. But when they hit that sweet spot it is quite sublime.

First single "Kaiyo Maru" pushes forward with Violator-era drum patterns under icy cold synth lines and Samuel Kklovenhoof's mannered vocals.



"Divided Parallel" evokes early Cure grandeur, with sweeping synths and shards of gloomy guitars.



While album opener "Animal Smear" is a tense, jittery clash between air raid siren synths and droning guitars.



And album standout "Iron the Mandala," a gradually rising swoop of synths, brittle guitars and haunting vocals.



The remainder of the album is a mixture of pulsing instrumentals and more abstract vocal tracks. "Bladiator" and "Arab Tide" both pulse under throbbing beats and atmospheric guitars.



The more abstract tracks, while interesting in theory, tend to bog the album down. Singer Kklovenhoof has mentioned that the death of his sister cast a shadow over the writing and recording of the album, and it is quite apparent from the almost merciless gloom of these tracks. "Housefire At Zumi's" recalls the sepulchral gloom of Pornography-era Cure, using oppressively dark drum machines, crystalline keyboards and scraping guitars.



"Agua Fuerte" drones on heavily treated keyboards and a mostly moaned vocal.



While "La Lluvia y Memoria" feels more like a sketch of a song than a completed track. Stoic washes of guitar linger over a clatter of drum programming and icy keyboards, as Kklovenhoof screeches in his best Alien Sex Fiend impersonation.



But, in the end, I am still a sucker for a dark, gothy synth record so, despite these small qualms, I actually found myself really enjoying The Diver. The potent mix of icy synths, propulsive drum programming, and slightly hammy deep vocals were too intoxicating to ignore. Hopefully, Led Er Est will still let their best work be dictated by that fight between their more experimental leanings and pop smarts, as those tracks are still the ones that linger in my head. As it stands, The Diver is a good record that hints at much better things to come.

Rating Scale:

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and piques one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.