Luxembourg artist Rome, aka Jerome Reuter, has been an active entity in the European music scene for 15 years, and has been releasing material at a steady pace throughout his career so far as well. “The Lone Furrow” is his second album of 2020 and his 15th production overall, and will be released through German label Trisol Music Group at the end of August 2020.
All the albums I have encountered by Rome so far have impressed me, and his latest one strikes me as yet another very solid creation from start to finish. Just where this album fits in the neofolk context his music is generally filed under remains an open question to me, as has been the case for most of the previous Rome albums I have encountered. For me at least, the music Rome creates has more of a timeless and genre-defying quality to it overall.
This time around we do get a fair share of songs that strikes me as possibly being at the core of the overall style of this project, with compositions using the contrast between a sparse and gentler verse and a more dramatic and bombastic chorus to good effect. The vocals of Reuter and the various guest singers are a dominant element throughout, typically backed by acoustic guitars and delicate rhythm effects in the verse parts with bombastic, dramatic drum strikes and a more fleshed out arrangement for the more impact oriented chorus sections. Keyboards are given a gentle presence here and there, alongside what may be an electric guitar at times, and sounds that I would describe as drones also make occasional appearances.
The exceptions to the material described above is just as interesting. ‘Kali Yuga Über Alles’ with it’s more rhythm-dominated arrangement merits a mention here, and also the shorter cinematic pieces, where the ominous dark vibes of ‘Making Enemies in the New Age’ in particular is worth taking note of. On a completely different deviation we have the longer ‘Palmyra’, using layered orchestral sounds and vivid, layered subtle backing vocals that both contrast chanson-oriented lead vocals with a rougher, gruff touch to them. A cinematic, orchestral soundscape with the vocals the element that keeps this excursion grounded if you like.
As an album experience “The Lone Furrow” is a solid one, and on a song by song basis there aren’t any weak spots either. A couple of songs strike me as more interesting than the rest for what are probably subjective reasons, with the more energetic and beautifully built up ‘Obsidian’ being my personal pick from this album, but there’s nothing there that strikes me as being of a lesser quality. Personal taste in music will obviously dictate the interest in this album, but from what I can hear the compositions are really well made and executed, the mix and production is spot on, and those concerned with lyrics will probably get a lot out of inspecting them a bit closer as well.
Existing fans of Rome can safely add this album to their purchasing plans, and for those so far unfamiliar with this artist, I’d suggest that people with an interest in both acoustic rock and post-punk oriented escapades should find a lot to enjoy here, alongside those with a general interest in well made music exploring moods and atmospheres of a dark and ominous nature.
My rating: 83/00
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Track list:
1. Masters of the Earth
2. Tyriat Sig Tyrias
3. Ächtung, Baby!
4. Making Enemies in the New Age
5. The Angry Cup
6. The Twain
7. Kali Yuga Über Alles
8. The Weight of Light
9. The Lay of Iria
10. On Albion’s Plain
11. Palmyra
12. Obsidian
13. A Peak of One’s Own
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Links:
https://www.facebook.com/romeproject/
https://www.facebook.com/TrisolMusic/
