Since their debut United (2000), the men of the French company Phoenix have built a reputation as architects of a sophisticated electropop sound. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, the funny titled fourth album, shows the familiar Phoenix sound. The special edition DVD shows that the musicians worked on their sound as true scientists. This time too this has resulted in a perfectly balanced sound. But perfection
… is not always an undivided pleasure. When every sound is in place, admiration can give way to boredom. Ultimately, the quality of the songs determines whether the balance turns in the right direction. Unfortunately there are few songs on Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix that you want to hear again. As if the endless scraping and overdubbing made the soul disappear from the songs. Conclusion? Operation successful, patient died. (MS)more
