Reviews of "Chameleon"
"How could anyone not love a band who wrote a love song for Boba Fett, the Star Wars cult industrial
icon? In one of the more exciting debuts in recent years, Chameleon ranges from swirly goth to
pop industrial, with intriguing lyrics, melodic vocals and some of the best dance synth
programming you are likely to hear. Amanda-Claire, Illumina’s vocalist, has an understated
singing style that takes a track or two to get used to. But by “No Disintegrations” it
is quite evident that she is something quite a bit beyond the usual goth/darkwave vocalist.
Her lyrics are even more unique - in particular I enjoyed the lyrics for the tracks
“I Draw Blood” which refreshingly had nothing to do with vampires, and “No Disintegrations,”
the aforementioned track about Boba Fett. Steve, the instrumental half of Illumina,
is a remarkable programmer, able to produce everything from gloomy ambience to pounding dance
floor tracks. Among my favorites were the maudlin “Destiny,” the quirky darkwave track
“She Bites,” and of course “No Disintegrations”. Blending techno influences with Projekt style
atmospherics, “Chameleon” is characterized by infectious pop hooks and driving dance beats.
Frankly, it is difficult to believe this is a debut, as Illumina has a mature and defined
sound that many established acts lack. “Chameleon” is destined for heavy club play, and is
a definite must-buy for any darkwave, electro and Projekt listeners.
"The debut album from Illumina brings a fresh wave of England’s hip goth-rock sounds to the shores of
America. Chameleon wastes no time in grabbing the listener’s attention with the electronic dance track
“No Disintegrations.” Amanda-Claire’s golden-toned vocals are a perfect fit for Steve Croker’s
synth-pop and electro-rock melodies. The hypnotically alluring “Destiny” and the goth-pop
“I Draw Blood” sprout melodies that take root in your memory banks and continue to flourish for days.
“Night Chameleon” offers an industrial caress, while the fast-paced “Awakening” delivers a rock-rhythm
dance track. Illumina shines with a diverse mixture of dark electronica and catchy, alternative,
dance-oriented rock."
"Illumina’s debut album ‘Chameleon’ is a new spark on the Nightbreed label. The first thing that
strikes you on listening to the album are Amanda-Claire’s vocals, her alluring clear voice being
not dis-similar to that of Rose McDowall (circa Strawberry Switchblade) or the singer from Opus 3,
with an easy smoothness and purity. There is a refreshing diversity of styles on the album, with
guitar, cyber, synth and ethereal elements all utilised and mixed together seamlessly. Track 2 –
‘Night Chameleon’ – is energetic with techno/rave influences broken up by Amanda-C’s sweet vocals,
whilst ‘No Disintegrations’ has Steve’s compulsive hooking machine beats, and my personal favourite
track, ‘Fade’, is a synthy, sorrow-tinged track that soars into the listener, filling you with
childhood nostalgia and longing. By keeping on the edge of crossing any definite lines, the album
is made difficult to categorize easily, but it should appeal to a wide cross-section of the scene as
it’s all done so well. The lyrics and music have an innocent, yet jaded, bittersweet feel and an
enchanting quality that draws on a variety of subjects. Overall, ‘Chameleon’ has a pop-synth, dreamy,
tuneful sound with plenty of dance floor potential, and deserves repeated listening, as although it is
instantly likeable and pleasurable, it is worth taking the time to appreciate each track’s unique
character and depth. An album well worth purchasing and embracing.
"This is the debut album of Illumina, which sounds definitely British. There’s a strong acid-electro
content combined with typical guitar wave parts and lead through a female vocalist. After a kind of
intro, we get a heavy and fast acid-punk track entitled “Night Chameleon”. I easily imagine it will
become the favourite piece of numerous people hearing the album, but I prefer the slower and more
emotive tracks. That brings me to songs like “I Draw Blood”, “Destiny” and “The Haunted”. They’re
much more mature and refined while the way of singing is bordering the edge of emotionally charged.
You’ll maybe remember “The Haunted”, which has been featured on the “Venusa XX” sampler. With “Lamia”,
Illumina reveal their explicit pop influences, which remind me of early Depeche Mode. But like a good
chameleon… the next cut “Awakening” contains guitar parts that seem to evoke the spirit of The Sisters
Of Mercy.
"New stars on the British darkwave scene are born! Well not completely as Illumina made their debut
appearance on "Venusa XX", a compilation from Side-Line and with that we already know we are talking
about synthetic music and they do it with style! This is electro-pop with female vocals that is full
of goth-elements. Illumina's strongest point must be Amanda Claire who plays the perfect goth-diva,
a sort of sensible voice that is capable of sounding ethereal or singing goth-pop
(Láme Immortelle, Swarf) while the electronic synths are giving it all a bit of a club atmosphere even
if they add some goth guitars a la Cure or Clan Of Xymox in it that automatically gives it that
Nightbreed-sound, cos how modern and updated Illumina's sound might be there is a sort of
melancholic feel to the goth part, but that graces them...it even gives them a stronger sound!
The cd is very varied, "Lamia" is the sort of Covenant with female vocals while a song like
"The Haunted" could have been written by Bel Canto. The whole CD represents a sort of
dark atmosphere and one of the better records this month! Hmmmmm....things are really going good
with the goth scene in the UK these days!
"I still can't believe that I have just listened to a debut album. If only other bands would put
this much care, rehearsal and effort into their first album things would be better.
This is one of the most fantastic albums that I have heard for a long time.
Illumina have found a way of producing a dark-electrosounds coupled together with good old gothic rock,
and "Chameleon" is the result. Amanda-Claire has a very beautiful voice together with great lyrics
that take you places, and emotions that stem from the soul. The variety of their ability can be
heard from the pounding track "No Disintegrations" as well as the darkness that is portrayed in
"The Haunted". Let's not forget the other member of this band Steve who certainly loves
the scene to produce such quality instrumental sounds. And I still cannot believe this is a debut
album."
"Well, let me cut straight to the chase in describing this release. It’s a bouncy, happy,
electronic Goth album for the Summer. That’s it. Stick it in your car stereo, crank up the volume,
open the windows and go for a long drive in the sun!"
"11 tracks of melodic singing, electronic structures and darkwave feel."
"Illumina, is an electronic goth-tinged project with lush, dreamy female vocals.
[Illumina] do a fine job of transporting us to another plain of musical existence. You could either
dance to this, or strap on your headphones, turn on your lava lamp, and lay back in your bean bag
chair while you drink it all in."
"Really strange new act...
Cheery goth meets quirky electro. "
