ZERAPHINE BLIND CAMERA ALBUM E-WAVE RELEASE: JANUARY 17, 2005 REVIEW: FEBRUARY 17, 2005

Zeraphine is a band who needs no waxing nostalgic about how they remind the listener of ye olde days. Because they don't. Zeraphine demand your attention in the most earnest of terms. With this third album, Sven Friedrich, Norman Selbig, Manuel Senger, Michael Nepp and Marcellus Puhlemann decimate the standards with blistering aplomb. 
Yes, this outfit is German and half their lyrics are in the said language, but so what? Zeraphine are so shiny and seamless it doesn't matter what tongue they chose to emote in, it will always be tasteful. Speaking of tasteful, their music (which is the more impressive part of the equation) will win you over in a matter of seconds. Straight for the jugular with pulsating synths, jangling guitars and immediate vocals. If you aren't one of the devoted, "Blind Camera" will assure your joining the vast ranks of Zeraphine's followers. People say in mocking half-tones that this band could never make it outside of Germany. Fuck them.
This band could be huge right here in the United States and I hope they know this. Now is the time for Zeraphine, they have never sounded better nor have they ever been so maddeningly vital. Rock music as a genre is all the better for these boys being around.

PETER MARKS