I am always hesitant to give a five star review to a record. Specially so early in the year, with big names still to come up with new material. But after listening to this CD non-stop for months (I got the import) it would be completely unfair to pack Hercules and Love affair with the rest of the dance acts that fill the racks of any given music store.Andrew Butler has admitted his admiration for the forgotten and obscure music from the 70's and 80's and that influence can be heard from the opening track to the last note. Although "Time will" may be seen as a rather weak and slow opener despite Antony's vocals, "Hercule's theme" reduces that notion to ashes with a beat that puts your right in the middle of a 70's dance floor, with a twist.Soon to be second single "You belong" continues the string of catchy tunes but it isn't until we get to the two outstanding tracks "Athene" and "blind" (hands down the best single released so far this year)that we can witness the potential of HALF.Tempo goes down once again to build up to a climax with "Raise me up" and "True Flase/Fake real".The reason behind the name of the band itself and the twelve tracks is Butler's love for mythology and the meaning of each of those characters. If you listen carefully to the lyrics you will not find a direct allusion to the composer's private world but rather a universal approach to life and relationships, being the love/pain marriage a strong presence throughout most of it. Do not expect this record to be an immediate love affair. It took me at least more than three listenings to surrender to the world that it transports you to. Nor should you compare it to any "modern" dance record, for Butler's whole intention was to recreate and expand the rich complex sounds of the underground scene relying more on what power of the voice and scattered technology can convey.
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