Luxembourg-based composer and musician Jerome Reuter has led his project ROME for just over 15 years at this point, releasing new material at a steady pace, and with the last couple of years being among his most productive. “Parlez-Vous Hate?” is his most recent studio album, and was released through the Trisol Music Group label in late January 2021.
I steadily see Rome referenced as a neofolk project, and I guess I’m just not overtly familiar with what neofolk is all about, as this latest album along with many of the previous productions I have written about by Rome doesn’t contain all that many elements I’d describe as related to folk music; at least in a manner I can tie back to the genre. The acoustic guitar is a central instrument though, and many of the songs strike me as possibly being expanded from a traditional singer/songwriter tradition. The kind of material I’d imagine being crafted by way of a singer and an acoustic guitar, and then developed afterwards into more expressive and layered constructions.
We do get a lot of these songs here, with careful electric guitars and acoustic guitars combined with steady rhythms and the fine, dark and inviting vocals of Reuter. He has a very good voice that often has a dominant role in the compositions, and he will also add various instruments and effects to complement the core instrumentation and flavor the arrangements. Otherwise alterations in pace and intensity from one song to the next serves its purpose. He does dip his toes into landscapes I’ll gladly add a folk reference to from time to time, but there are also creations that to my mind at least are more closely related to post-punk and arguably even new wave. What all the songs have in common is that they are easy to like, open and inviting, and if you find Jerome’s vocals to be as accomplished in execution as I do you will enjoy this album from start to finish.
We are treated to a few songs that are odd ones out here too however, and all of them stand out for me personally for different reasons. The brief opening sequence with the eerie conclusion and the fairly long soundscape concluding the album reference each other in a nice manner, rather different but similar at the same time, and both are atmospheric laden soundscapes rather than what one might call proper songs. Both of them conjuring a specific mood, as a brief introduction at the start of the album and one to immerse yourself in for the concluding creation. Very different from the other ten songs here, but worthwhile and intriguing nonetheless.
And then there’s the perhaps oddly named ‘Panzerschokolade’. Sound effects, big rhythms and dark tones dominate the proceedings of this more industrial laced creation, an ominous journey into dark and foreboding landscapes that intrigues you in a similar kind of manner as a gothic horror story. The beauty of darkness if you like, complete with Scooby snacks.
A special mention needs to be given to the song ‘Born in the E.U.’ too, of course, a song that made me smile for purely musical reasons.
Rome is a band that has started to get a special little place in my musical treasure chest. Calm and collected music, intelligent lyrics, and a creator that doesn’t resort to using a lot of fuzz and drama to create tension in his songs – other than some instances of bombastic rhythms. Music that should have a fairly broad appeal as I measure it, as long as you like songs that may well stay a bit more in darker moods and atmospheres than elsewhere. Musically I suspect a taste for singer/songwriter type of material combined with something of an affection for rock music emphasizing the use of the acoustic guitar should be a good combination, especially if occasional dips onto folk music landscapes and post-punk flavored setting sounds like a good thing. Another high quality production by a quality artist as far as I’m concerned.
My rating: 82/100
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/romeproject
https://www.facebook.com/TrisolMusic
