Maximilian Hecker - Rose

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  • There was a time when I thought that no matter what was placed in front of me, I could deal with the situation. I was invincible and nothing could touch me. But nothing can prepare you for the death of someone you love. No matter what anyone tells you, no matter what you read, no matter who you turn to, the devastation and isolation you feel is indescribable. Every bad moment that you think you’ve gone through pales in comparison. Some deal with their grief by turning to drugs and alcohol, some shut down emotionally and refuse to accept reality. Others learn to understand the situation and while sometimes feeling frustrated, get on with their lives the best way they can. Or at least try. My mother died a few years ago and I guess my way of coping with this was to immerse my life with music, in particular dance music. It pulled me out of the darkest realms and made me feel human again. These days dance music, in one form or another, is the only music I listen to. So much so that I’d forgotten that more commercially accepted music could have just as much of a profound affect on me as does listening to that perfect progressive track. To be honest, if I had known the affect Maximilian Hecker’s ‘Rose’ would have on me, it’s quite possible I would not have listened to this CD. From the first track to the last, I cried like a wounded child. The brilliance of this CD lies in the tragedy it evokes with each track, leaving a rather haunting after effect. The promotional material received with this CD described ‘Rose’ as a collection of love songs. I think what they really are is a collection of songs that show heartbreak and sadness. This is music that reveals a person’s raw emotions, a person that’s been stripped naked and left vulnerable. Maximilian Hecker is a 23 year old who hails from Berlin with ‘Rose’ being his follow up to the critically acclaimed ‘Infinite Love Songs’. At such a tender age, I’m amazed at the fragility he has been able to express in his music and if there was one person to whom I would compare him, it would be the late Jeff Buckley. Much like Buckley, Hecker bares more of his soul with each track and with each listen, a certain sadness is revealed. ‘Rose’ opens with the stark yet powerful ‘Kate Moss’. With this very track, Hecker establishes a sense of loss and loneliness that prevails throughout this CD. In some way, with each track, he tells a different piece of the same story. It’s a story that revolves around loss, regret, yearning and most importantly hurt. This is made clear in tracks such as ‘I Am Falling Now’ and ‘Fool’. It is especially abundant in the way Hecker uses his vocals not just on these tracks but in all of them. Up until ‘Daylight’, each track has been quiet and austere, filled with lush strings and piano riffs. With ‘Daylight’, Hecker seems to have woken up and realised that it’s not all about tears and regret. Instead of sweeping sounds, we now have the sound of basslines and beats which is even further explored with ‘My Love For You Is Insane’ with its almost drum and bass like beats. This particular track is my favourite and what was somewhat of a surprise on this otherwise remorse CD. However, this upbeat momentum does not last and with ‘Powderblue’, that sense of loss returns and is maintained until the end with the title track ‘Rose’. Overall, this is a collection of the most beautifully tragic songs I have ever heard. This is certainly not something you want to be listening to when upset yet at the same time, that’s exactly what we do: we all listen to tragic love songs when we’ve lost someone we love. I would be surprised if one or all of these songs did not affect the most hardened person. With the combination of gorgeous music and Maximilian Hecker’s vocals, the affect is a lasting one. As for me, without that jolt in my life, I don’t think I would be where I am today. And if that wasn’t the case, there is so much I would have lost out on and completely missed. I certainly don’t think I would ever be sitting here, on this winter’s day, writing a review about a collection of songs that have affected me as much as ‘Rose’ has. As much as this has been a personal journey for Maximilian Hecker, it has been just the same for me. What once lay dormant for me, has been awakened again. There are things that I had forgotten, which I remember again. For that, I will be thankful to this man with the fragile voice that has reduced me to tears. This has been a truly personal, difficult review to write and one I won’t forget. I treasure the life I have, the people I know, the things I’ve experienced but for now, I think I’ll go for a walk.
  • Tracklist
      1. Kate Moss 2. I Am Falling Now 3. That’s What You Do 4. Fool 5. My Story 6. Daylight 7. My Love For You Is Insane 8. Powderblue 9. Never-Ending Days 10. My Friends 11. Rose
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