Music Reviews of Techno, Trance, Industrial, Electronica
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Chiodos
Perhaps no one can explain the sheer ferocity and timid quietness it is better than when vocalist Craig Owens says “we don’t want to let the kids down” when discussing the group’s intense vocals live at shows. Well they never let a single kid down with their vicious assault on the ears and grip on the jugular...
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03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Techno, Trance, Jungle, Trip-Hop, Industrial, Electronica, IDM, House, Drum&Bass
Enigma — A Posteriori Buy it at Amazon
Easily the sexiest electronic band in the history of music, Enigma always seems to start their albums with that one little synth sample. Awash in the glorious light of monk-tested vocal chants, “A Posteriori” is just about two leaps to the left of anything that one could dub “New Age”. New Age is precisely where so many of their previous albums have languished which is a shame when you note there’s very subtle differences between them and say Delerium. Now the group who always make me think of Sharon Stone having sex (ala “Sliver”), punishes me for ever having not listened to their rabid fans with an album fit for any club, downtempo or otherwise. Many of the songs build up into a frenzied club worthy abandon with plenty of samples and synthetic rhythms coaxed out. Perfect harmonies that marry electronica with ambient and spacey techno. You almost feel like you need to wear a condom just to listen to it.
- J-Sin
Jette-Ives — In the Deep Buy it at Amazon
Sultry and sexy with luxurious ambience, “In the Deep” is a house album that downtempo clubs wish they had been spinning years ago. But sadly this wasn’t a vintage album culled from the ruins of a now defunct Tower Records. Instead it’s an off-shoot of the storied Thievery Corporation scene from the nation’s capital. Techno that’s sophisticated and completely sexy brushing aside comparisons to trip-hop’s best in Portishead, Jette-Ives are a male/female duo that continue to amaze with each engaging tune.
- J-Sin
Mingo — This Side of the Night Buy it at Amazon
More Eno than Orb, Mingo is delightful ambient space music that delves into the cerebral side of things quite well. While “This Side of the Night” is rarely beat-driven, there is an undeniable sense of rhythm that pulses throughout. There are some dark and dank tunes on here that reach back and find eerie synthetic musical compositions. Mingo fills the vast void of space with driving synth work that belie his rave and trance techno background. There’s a whole lot going on under the hood beyond this relatively simplistic stripped-down sound, trust me.
- J-Sin
Objekt 4 — Her Face Among the Shadows Buy it at Amazon
Sweden’s Anders Peterson joins up with a Czech label Ravenheart Productions on “Her Face Among the Shadows” and this dark collaboration writes some of the dankest ambient you’ll ever hear. Mindnumbing electronica with subtle beats that drill a hole deep into your core and shake you from the inside out. Haunting sublime hints of Eno nostalgia but with less of the now yellowed sound that many of his groundbreaking records have. Good stuff.
- J-Sin
Robert G. — Dreamland Express Buy it at Amazon
Robert G.’s “Dreamland Express” is fronted by the upbeat single “Highest Mountain”, which is sugary trance music fit for any candy raver who still has their hearing. Booming bass hits on a four-to-the-floor rhythm schematic are first layered down with cute female vocals stacked on top, alongside infectious melodies, and club-friendly bridges. DJs will no doubt add “Highest Mountain” as their new favorite top-of-the-night floor-filler tune. Released alongside “Dreamland Express” is a DVD featuring music videos for the single as well as MySpace friend submitted videos. Nice touches make this trance album a sure fire hit even with its cheesy overtures.
- J-Sin
The Motet — Instrumental Dissent Buy it at Amazon
This reminds me of an album off of Kriztal with its post-jazz downtempo electronic vibe. Slicing through the influences of Latin rhythms, Afro-beat, and salsa, The Motet keep their eyes on reclaiming the funk ‘n’ roll from lost ‘70’s soundtrack LPs. Fused beats that know how to take you from slow to quick all the while keeping the eye on the proverbial ball, will have the lounges bouncing and drinks flowing. Nice flow, man.
- J-Sin
Keyavash Nourai & Shahrokh Yadegari — Migrations Buy it at Amazon
Ambient Persian music that’s a mixture of tradition and otherworldly devices—a true “Migration” if you will. Keyavash Nourai provides the violin while Shahrokh Yadegari utilizes self-built music software dubbed “Lila”, and a madness of sonic obtuseness unfolds. Incredibly dark yet brilliantly magical, “Migration” is a stirring rendition of music fit to be played alongside some neo-field recording ambient drone album. Intriguing!
- J-Sin
Mordacious — This Emptiness Buy it at Amazon
Bouncy heavy four-to-the-floor beats thunder their way from the speakers into your body singlehandedly urging you to move. Caustic distorted vocals remind one a bit of a mixture of Leaetherstrip and Frontline Assembly with more horrifically themed lyrics. EBM has had a place in my heart for quite some time and folks who take the sound and morph even more extreme with gabber-esque dance rhythms and synthetic melodies turn my body into mush. Forget raving, this is straight-out insanity and heavier than industrial could ever hope to be.
- J-Sin
Massive Attack — Collected: The Best of Massive Attack Buy it at Amazon
Trip-hop extraordinaire Massive Attack while readying their new album in ’07 decided to assemble a “Greatest Hits” of sorts. But not one to profit on the same songs available on their albums, Massive Attack pulled together a dual disc filled with a DVD that consists of all of their music videos with a flip side of new and rare songs. Their new single “Live With Me” featuring Terry Callier on vocals is also included to give you a nice taste of what’s in store. In addition, there’s a full audio disc filled with other tracks from their storied and celebrated past. If you haven’t had the pleasure of being introduced to this fantastic group who even did the soundtrack to the gritty “Danny the Dog” film, than this is the perfect way to bust your cherry.
- J-Sin
Overlap — Faded Buy it at Amazon
Various ambient recordings from ’92 to ’04 are spotlighted on Overlap’s “Faded” album. Abandoning the more electro/EBM sounds of “Electric Paint” for atmospheric ambient, the U.K.’s Overlap sounds a hell of a lot better. Infused with gothic overtures, “Faded” can really reach back and tap sounds that Eno fine-tuned years before. Much better production makes this more listenable than “Electric Paint”.
- J-Sin
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