Snowman - Zombies on the Airwaves of Paris (bass, house)

Fruitonica · 03-06-2009, 01:53 AM

1. Interlude 1
2. Lost in the Woods
3. Interlude 2
4. Horror Song
5. Nightmare Records
6. Mood Swing
7. Interlude 3
8. Zombies on the Airwaves of Paris
9. Under Houses

Released 2004, 78 Records.

It's always interesting to run backwards through a band's discography, listen to them devolve or evolve if their trajectory was unspectacular.

On their brilliant 2008 record, The Horse, The Rat and The Swan, Snowman showed us a glimpse of a bleak science fiction apocalypse, swimming in madness and despair.
Zombies on the Airwaves of Paris, dating 2004, is their first release and it shows them approaching similar themes from the opposite direction. The very literal title clues you in, it's a throwback to old B-grade horror films. A fun blend of homage and satire, that works quite well as a semi concept album. There are interludes of radio static scattered throughout while the zombies get their act together (presumably they are new to this).

Moonlight on the streets of Paris, while the zombies take control, of the airwaves
Moonlight on the streets of Paris, while the zombies eat you brain.

This theme has created an album that is much lighter musically, Snowman's surf punk elements are very noticeable here, tangy plucked guitar or bass lines lines do a lot of the driving work here, such as the opener 'Lost in the Woods'. The catchy, smooth chanted chorus, shows Snowman still clinging to pop accessibility and the style is repeated several times throughout the album, it works best on the beginning of 'Termites'.

Gonna get back, Gonna get into them.
Stab em in the back,
Cos they're coming through the city now.

Snowman haven't really developed their use of aural texturing here, and most of the compositions are fairly straightforward, but in keeping with the premise, some hilariously melodramatic symphonic flourishes are built into, such as the climactic end of 'Under Houses', which also closes the album.

The biggest flaw, with the record and it's mostly in comparison to their newer work and symptomatic of their much softer approach is how much flatter their drumming is, with none of the pounding tribal-esque rhythms that they do so well.

'Zombies on the Airwaves of Paris' is a very solid album which showcases a lighter side of one of Snowman. Although, if you haven't listened to it already you should definitely download their latest effort first because it's a much more evolved and rewarding work.

03-06-2009, 01:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
Fruitonica Pale and Wan Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Aus Posts: 917	Snowman - Zombies on the Airwaves of Paris 1. Interlude 1 2. Lost in the Woods 3. Interlude 2 4. Horror Song 5. Nightmare Records 6. Mood Swing 7. Interlude 3 8. Zombies on the Airwaves of Paris 9. Under Houses Released 2004, 78 Records. It's always interesting to run backwards through a band's discography, listen to them devolve or evolve if their trajectory was unspectacular. On their brilliant 2008 record, The Horse, The Rat and The Swan, Snowman showed us a glimpse of a bleak science fiction apocalypse, swimming in madness and despair. Zombies on the Airwaves of Paris, dating 2004, is their first release and it shows them approaching similar themes from the opposite direction. The very literal title clues you in, it's a throwback to old B-grade horror films. A fun blend of homage and satire, that works quite well as a semi concept album. There are interludes of radio static scattered throughout while the zombies get their act together (presumably they are new to this). Moonlight on the streets of Paris, while the zombies take control, of the airwaves Moonlight on the streets of Paris, while the zombies eat you brain. This theme has created an album that is much lighter musically, Snowman's surf punk elements are very noticeable here, tangy plucked guitar or bass lines lines do a lot of the driving work here, such as the opener 'Lost in the Woods'. The catchy, smooth chanted chorus, shows Snowman still clinging to pop accessibility and the style is repeated several times throughout the album, it works best on the beginning of 'Termites'. Gonna get back, Gonna get into them. Stab em in the back, Cos they're coming through the city now. Snowman haven't really developed their use of aural texturing here, and most of the compositions are fairly straightforward, but in keeping with the premise, some hilariously melodramatic symphonic flourishes are built into, such as the climactic end of 'Under Houses', which also closes the album. The biggest flaw, with the record and it's mostly in comparison to their newer work and symptomatic of their much softer approach is how much flatter their drumming is, with none of the pounding tribal-esque rhythms that they do so well. 'Zombies on the Airwaves of Paris' is a very solid album which showcases a lighter side of one of Snowman. Although, if you haven't listened to it already you should definitely download their latest effort first because it's a much more evolved and rewarding work.