Review: “From Paris To Berlin” by Infernal (CD, 2007)

Today’s Pop Rescue from an unknown fate, is the 2007 UK re-issued third album From Paris To Berlin by Danish pop-dance group, Infernal. Will this album be like a romantic weekend in Paris, or does it need a one-way ticket to the bin? Read on…

Infernal – From Paris To Berlin (2007 UK Edition) album.

This 13 track CD bursts open with the bouncing instantly recognisable intro of hit and titular track From Paris To Berlin. Vocalist Lina Rafn is soon on the mic with the chorus before hitting the verse. This track is a flawless stomper, which along with its eye-catching video, gave them a #2 UK hit in Spring 2006. A perfect start to this album.

Next is Hey Hello!, and this gives us another thumping beat, allowing us to hear Lina’s vocals hit new realms as synths gurgle and pad in the background. It’s a nice catchy slightly more mellow pop track.

Self Control follows this, a cover of the 1984 track by Raf. Infernal also released the track, but it failed to repeat their earlier chart success in the UK, and it reached #18. This version is fairly loyal to Laura Branigan’s hit version (also 1984), and updates it nicely with a fresh beat and synths.

Then it’s Ten Miles, which gives us a nice piano line and Lina sounds slightly annoyed in her vocals similar to P!nk. This slower emphatic pop track benefits from having the piano alongside Lina throughout, and it makes a great companion – helping to build on Infernal’s over all sound.

That’s followed by I Won’t Be Crying which returns us to thumping dance song. Nestled prominently in here is a Depeche Mode sample from their 1987 single Strangelove. This sample gives the track its main hook, although the verses with Lina on the mic also sound great, but they always lead back to the sample. It’s a nice use of a fantastic hook. Despite this use of Depeche Mode’s sample and the track’s release in the UK, the track flopped at #123.

Fairytale is next, and this track opens exactly like a fairytale before a thumping beat and synths drop in, reminiscent to Madonna’s disco-pop hit Sorry. Lina sounds fantastic here, flanked by the synths and piano once more.

That leads on to A To The B, and initially I’m reminded of Róisín Murphy’s vocal style, but there’s also glimmers of Sophie Ellis-Bextor in here too during a wonderful hammy British accent spoke word section. This track is catchy as hell, and really should have made it as a UK single, although it was a hit for the duo in Denmark in 2005.

Then it’s Peace Inside, which is a wave of synths and heartfelt vocals over acoustic guitars and racing beats and bass line. Once again, I’m reminded of Sophie Ellis-Bextor vocally at times, but over all it’s a nice mid-tempo track.

Next up is Ultimate Control, and a moody set of synths pad in as a thunderstorm rumbles overhead. Lina’s vocals cut through this with some big notes as a booming beat arrives. The synthscapes are beautiful here, and perhaps a little at the cost of the lyrics.

That’s followed by pop song Dressed In Blue. This track feels like it could easily have been done by Girls Aloud with little adjustment. Here, Lina makes light work of the vocals as the synth layers gurgle and swirl around each other. It’s a great plodding track.

Following that is Keen On Disco, and this lives up to its name, with plenty of disco tropes alongside a dance beat. There’s a sample in here from tv2’s track Vil du danse med mig. The synths are rammed through a load of effects making them sound irresistible and expertly layered, and at times remind me of the opening From Paris To Berlin. Lina’s vocals sound at home here, with plenty of playful lyrics and opportunities to let off some big notes.

Off to an eeiry start is Deeper Still. This has a mysterious and almost menacing start – musically and lyrically. The synths are beautiful here in the intro, as the track builds up its layers towards the first chorus. It’s minimal and lets Lina’s vocals shine, in big notes, and at times some wonderfully menacing tones. It’s a great moody song.

The album closes with This Little Secret, and this gives us some crushed beats, delicate beeping synths, set against some really nice warm ballad vocals and backing vocals. It’s like an Everything But The Girl (Walking Wounded era) song with big dirty beats and lovely vocals. It is a wonderful song, and a really nice contrasting end to this album.

Infernal’s hit single ‘From Paris To Berlin’ (2007).

Verdict

Over all, this album is a consistent thumper of dance-disco-pop songs, with occasional wonderful twists.

When I stumbled across this album by Infernal, I was genuinely surprised to realise that they’d made an album. Then, more surprised when I realised that it was actually their third (and they’ve had more since), leaving my curiosity piqued. As a listener in the UK, they’re known for one belter of a song with a great companion video and that’s about it.

The highlights are definitely From Paris To Berlin, but to be fair the whole album is pretty darn good. Other high hitters are I Won’t Be Crying (thanks Depeche Mode), A To The B, and This Little Secret, with may others being wonderful tunes too. The album’s weakest point comes for consecutive tracks Peace Inside and Ultimate Control, which although fine, they just don’t give as much as the rest with a lack of strength or direction.

The album may have been titled From Paris To Berlin, but it deserved to spend more time in the UK – and our lack of singles (either due to not being released, or not charting) remains a crime against music that needs to be righted. Sorry, Infernal, you deserved more.