10 November 2024

IAMX – The Kingdom of Welcome Addiction

Releasedate: 19-05-2009; Label: Metropolis Records / 61seconds
By: Nina Mende

IAMX is the solo musical project of Chris Corner. Corner has repeatedly said that IAMX is very different from his actual, real-life personality and is a kind of quasi “act”. Whether an act or not, IAMX’s music is primarily concerned with subjects such as outlandish sex, death, narcotic intoxication, bisexuality, decadence, obsession, alienation and vague allusions to politics. Corner currently lives in Berlin, where he has found “the spirit to care less about the music industry and take an independent route.”

The long wait is finally over and we can listen to the new stuff by mastermind Chris Corner. The album begins with a sort of illusional song whereas “Kingdom of Welcome Addiction” is simply extremely touchy and emotional. Quite slow and deeply piercing it goes straight under your skin getting you hooked on the sound of IAMX. “Tear Garden” has something dreamy but also a harsh bass that doesn’t let you drift too far off. Yet it takes your full attention and doesn’t let you think of anything else, especially during the chorus. “My Secret Fried” is another amazing piece of art on this wonderful album, spacey and mind taking. “I For An I” is an extremely interesting to listen to, somehow like a rollercoaster ride for your ears and mind. Another dream-like song is “I Am Terrified”, a quite sad one though. It makes you shake with its deep fear that you can hear. “The Stupid, The Proud” begins with acoustic guitar and is accompanied by some soft and slow circus sounds playing with your mind, fooling it and pushing it around. Another tricky song is “The Great Shipwreck of Life” because it makes you dance along even though the lyrics are not really anything you could dance to when thinking about it yet you can’t stop moving to the music. Yet another amazing piece of art. “Running” is a very slow song, deep and touching, a great closing for the album. Artistic lyrics take your mind on a journey where you still will be wandering around lost and dazzled long after the album is finished.

Tracklist:
1. “Nature of Inviting”
2. “Kingdom of Welcome Addiction”
3. “Tear Garden”
4. “My Secret Friend” (featuring Imogen Heap)
5. “An I for an I”
6. “I Am Terrified”
7. “Think of England”
8. “The Stupid, The Proud”
9. “You Can Be Happy”
10. “The Great Shipwreck of Life”
11. “Running”

Links:
IAMX MySpace
IAMX Official