Artist: Dead When I Found Her
Album: Rag Doll Blues
Review by: Outsider (aka Adrian Onsen)

Dark, emotional, atmospheric, layered, melodic, film-noir; just a few words that come to mind while listening the new DWIFH (Dead When I Found Her) second full length album, Rag Doll Blues.
The goal of the DWIFH project is to explore the late 80’s early 90’s electro industrial style of music which is seldom found these days. In that context I have to congratulate Michael for stepping up and nailing that style. Michael Holloway’s vocals are clean, powerful and haunting at times and the copious use of samples compliment wonderfully his voice and the story that each song unveils. The balance between vocal and instrumental ingredients is continuously adjusted for a most powerful impact. The elaborate use of samples, and distinct attention to layering is reminiscent of early FLA and Skinny Puppy albums. Some of the samples are down scary, not because they feature people screaming in horror. But because of the imagery they construct in the listener’s mind, which for me is much more powerful and lasting.

I think the reason I fell in love with this album is because of the throw back to the industrial music I loved when I started listening to industrial music in the early to mid 90’s. It has an analog feel to it (it’s not overly electronic sounding) from the drums to the synths. A refreshing sound in a time when a lot of releases in the industrial scene today tend to focus on the dance floor beats, distorted vocals and digital and electronic sounds.

For me this is a brilliant album. Dark, complex and melodic. One to climb into a comfortable chair with, turn the lights down and let the imagination drift into another world shaped by the aural experience.

Buy Dead When I Found Her’s new album Rag Doll Blues at Storming The Base, or on Amazon.com.