Lukas Batteau is a craftsman, who pays attention to each detail of his songs. After releasing two EP's his first full-length Wasteland explores heartbreak, loss and death. So this is heavy-handed album? Not as such. Some songs are actullay pretty upbeat, which makes a interesting contrast with the serious lyrics - just check out the banjo in Dance For The Dead (the album has a bonus track with an even more prominent role for that underrated instrument).
Batteau is half Dutch and half American and the listener gets the best of both worlds. the European styled melody of The Storm truly shines by adding The Red Limo String Quartet, who keep on playing through the Reprise that serves as a coda. On the other hand he tips hit hat at Nineties USA alternative college rock (Cannonball).
Wasteland is a self-released album. Buy it from his website.
Tracks:- Enchanted
- Wateland
- Cannonball
- Line Of Fire
- Dance For The Dead
- Prelude (The Still)
- The Storm
- Reprise (The Wake)
- Goodbye
- Island Of Sorrow
- Dance For The Dead (more banjo edit)
- 10/25 Ekko, Utrecht, The Netherlands (CD release show)
» lukasbatteau.com
HCTF review of Lukas Batteau.