Without This You Can Never Change

Elektrauma Review

Translated from German

With regards to the title of this album you can say the following: once you have listened to this album you feel changed. If you are one of those people who thinks synthpop is dead, after having listened to this album all you can say is: synthpop has been revived successfully. It is a simple recipe the band is using. It is well made synthpop which does not waste time trying to sound like old heroes, like Depeche Mode, Camouflage or others. This CD is looking for it’s own audience and sounds automatically fresh and new! The songs vary between pop melodies which, in combination with guitars, sound ‘earthy’ and sound a bit Indie (“Out of Touch, “About To Explode”, “Stronger Than Steel”). The CD also allows for extremely electronic moments (“Nothing Else”, “Time Will Make A Fool Out Of Me”). With this Australian project, the music and the song as such, are always the center of attention. Space March does not try to sound fake, but very honest. Space March creates a great atmosphere using the right tools. The very high pitch voice (reminds me of bands like Elegant Machinery) lends the compositions lots of atmospheric moments. It should be easy for Space March to make its mark in this country! (insider’s tip!)

Score: 6 out of 6
Publication: Elektrauma
Date: July, 2007
Reviewer: Andreas Romer

Read Junk Review

Some bands these days pay homage to an older era by incorporating the sounds into their music. Others, like Space March, play music so authentically retro that it’s hard to believe it was made in this era. Essentially a one man synth band, Space March is the closest thing to Depeche Mode I’ve heard since, well, Depeche Mode. And the record is good, too. One of the greatest strengths in recreating the authentic synth pop sound is the use of programmed drums, synthesizers, guitars, and most of all, Craig Simmons’ voice, a perfect mix between the lead singer of the Go-Betweens and New Order.

I do think that Simmons is a better performer than songwriter. And that’s not to say that any of the songs are bad, but none of the tracks, except maybe album highlight ‘Canadian Girls’ comes close to the brilliance of ‘Personal Jesus’, ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’, or ‘A Little Respect’. But it’s not without trying. The album is absolutely consistent in its retro sound, with a slightly dark undertone but a generally bubbly nature. Play this for your next 80s party and nobody will believe it was made in 2007.

RATING & SUMMARY:
Bottom Line: Perfectly recreated 80s synth pop. Hard to believe how accurate it is.
Notable Tracks: Canadian Girls, Impossible, About To Explode
Overall Rating: 4 Stars

Publication: Read Junk
Date: December, 2007
Reviewer: Daniel Field
Web Site Review Page: Read Junk

Aiding & Abetting Review

Electronic pop, rock and roll in full force. Not strictly new wave or laptop or that sort of thing–though there are similarities, of course.

The main similarity is that Space March is one Craig Simmons, and this album is seriously assembled. Not unlike the Elliot Carlson Botero album I reviewed earlier, the electronics serve their master and don’t wag the dog.

Yeah, there are Erasure or even Abba-esque moments. And there are some serious kick-ass rock bits. Sometimes in the same song. Simmons is a master of assimilation, which probably will put off a few people. That’s okay. He appears to be serving the interests of good music, and I’ll vote on that party line every time.

Fun and engaging. Simmons has a sense of melody and lyric that reminds me a bit of Stephin Merritt (Magnetic Fields, etc.). Simmons lives in a much brighter universe, but his occasional wry asides (in both music and lyrics) tell me that his eyes are wide open. He simply prefers to walk on the brighter path. Works for me.

Publication: Aiding & Abetting
Date: December, 2007
Reviewer: Jon Worley
Web Site Review Page: Aiding & Abetting

Plug In Music Review

Dreamy ballads mingle with bubbly electropop melodies that flitter and flow effortlessly from “Without This You Can Never Change,” the sophomore release from songwriter and producer Craig Simmons. Simmons, the lone man behind Space March, makes sure that the electronics and showy vocals blend well into many of his songs, bending the line until synthpop becomes simply pop.

Sounds Like: Sweet synthpop

Key Tracks: “Out Of Touch”

Rating: B

Publication: plug in music
Date: April 23, 2008
Reviewer: Corinne (Editor)
Web Site Review Page: Plug In Music

The ChickenFish Speaks

This is what it would’ve sounded back in the ’80s if ABC and Erasure got together to do an album. This CD explodes right out of the gate with the tune, well, uh “About to Explode”. It has the dancey synth goodness of any Erasure hit with a vocal delivery that’s dead on for a Martin Fry of ABC with a cold. In fact “Canadian Girl” sounds like a straight up ABC tune. While Space March does infuse some modern electronica into their songs (I can hear a bit of Daft Punk robot screeches on the tune “Nothing Else”) for the most part their synth is securely footed in the ’80s. While the last two songs are a bit weak, overall this CD is pretty damn good.

Publication: The ChickenFish Speaks
Date: December, 2007
Reviewer: Mite Mutant