"Changes," the title of Unplaces' new album, couldn't be more apt. After all, change in all its facets not only inspired the album concept, but also made itself felt in other ways for the band from Bochum and Hanover. Recently separated from their previous band name, NRT, the name change itself is perhaps the most obvious change—but only by a limited margin.
In this context, the completely new approach to songwriting that front woman and main composer Dorette Gonschorek takes on a completely unusual paths. While in the past the songs were created piece by piece and completely independently of each other over a longer period of time, the focus was This time, the focus is on the bigger picture. Therefore, "Changes" is a musical and lyrical unity, based on a sophisticated dramaturgy.
The trio playfully combines unobtrusive guitars with passionate vocals, rolls soft keyboard carpets over mechanical drum templates and interweaves wave, rock and post-punk with cautious pop elements into a varied spectacle of lighthearted Melancholy. The lyrical component of the 14 pieces, however, critically approaches the chosen thematic complex, questioning meaning and self-determination in times of mediatization, information overload, globalization, and compulsive consumerism. How can one keep pace with the constant change in society? Or, better still, in the words of the title piece:
What are changes for? The answer to this can be found between the lines of “Changes” (mis)locate.
PAGE A
01 Utopian Dream
02 Escape
03 Changes
SIDE B
01 The Left Behind
02 Lost In Space
03 Such a Shame
SIDE C
01 Reset
02 Downshifting
03 Insight
04 Mister Bot
SIDE D
01 Freedom
02 Pseudo Reality
03 Against Ourselves
04 Open End
