Music Reviews of Techno, Trance, Industrial, Electronica
Band Spotlight
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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Current Top Ten Chart
Skinny Puppy - Mythmaker
Converge - No Heroes
The Graduate - Anhedonia
Death By Stereo - Death Alive
Comeback Kid - Broadcasting
The Snake The Cross The Crown - Cotton Teeth
Dear and the Headlights - Small Steps, Heavy Hooves
The Geeks - Every Time We Fall
Limbeck - Limbeck
WinterKids - Memoirs
03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Techno, Trance, Jungle, Trip-Hop, Industrial, Electronica, IDM, House, Drum&Bass
Enigma — Love Sensuality Devotion: The Remix Collection Buy it at Amazon
The companion to Enigma’s “Best of” collection finds the group tapping the wealth of their remix catalog. A group that redefined the audience for dance music, Enigma brought in the masses as well as the New Age hippies who enjoyed Enigma’s worldly sound. Here the dance pop group grabs some club-friendly re-rubs and allows the sweat to flow freely. How can you go wrong with the “380 Midnight Mix” to their huge hit “Return to Innocence”?
- J-Sin
Liam Shachar — Perfect World Buy it at Amazon
His name has come alongside huge dance names like Paul Oakenfold and Marc Almond as a trusted remixer. Liam Shachar’s productions and compositions have also landed on famous labels such as Perfecto, Lost Language, Release Elements, and others. Beautifully mixed and masterful progressive trance is the name of the game here on “Perfect World”. Hailing from Israel, which is still known for its psy-trance and goa exports as well as progressive trance, Liam Shachar lights the dance floors on fire with four-to-the-floor bangers and stellar production. Peep this new release out on Tel Aviv-based IMP Records. This is as essential as it gets.
- J-Sin
Fulton Lights — Fulton Lights Buy it at Amazon
Not without an astonishing sense of sarcastic humor as evidenced by “Thank God for the Evening News”, Fulton Lights have an epic progressive album that delves into IDM, hip-hop, and indie pop with ambient backdrops cascading down all around. Working closely with members of the noisy eclectic hip-hop group Dalek, Andrew Spencer Goldman got Oktopus to help with initial tracking and production and also enlisted the former DJ of Dalek, Still to co-produce the album’s intro and “1,000 Little Eyes”. The lush arrangements and sparse minimalist textures set Fulton Lights into a spectrum all by themselves. Trip-hop at times but darker and more ominous. Put this album into your playlist with tracks by DJ Krush, Dalek, Massive Attack, Tricky, and TV on the Radio and you’re set.
- J-Sin
Spark Is a Diamond — Keep Your Eyes Off the Prize Buy it at Amazon
Philly’s Fall River was a hardcore band that dissolved as many do but Spark Is a Diamond is the odd result. Utilizing both male and female vocals in sort of a KMFDM way, the group mixes in dance-punk beats that flow from super-fast thumpers to mid-range tempo pulse kickers. Mixed by Matt Bayles (Blood Brothers, These Arms Are Snakes) and engineered by Paul Leavitt (From Autumn to Ashes, Darkest Hour), “Keep Your Eyes Off the Prize” is a surprising underground hit of manic dance-fueled punk rock that no one would have ever seen coming.
- J-Sin
Lolly Pop — Lolly Pop Buy it at Amazon
Much like her moniker suggests Lolly Pop is a sucker. Cheesy dance pop with a house vibe and incredibly New Wave club-friendly melodies that will snore you into thinking you’re listening to a bad Aqua b-side.
- J-Sin
Kobold — The Taste of Copper Buy it at Amazon
You’ll actually like “The Taste of Copper” once Kobold is through with you. Tweaked-out IDM and glitch-y electronica seeps through this darkly melodic album. Performing the perfect balancing act between industrial, IDM, and gothic EBM, Kobold maintains a safe distance from anything that has already been done, fine tuning their unique laptop sound and political commentary. Haunting visionaries like Kobold are few and far between, so be sure to hang on to this disc.
- J-Sin
Secret Mommy — Plays Buy it at Amazon
Forget your secret Santa’s this Christmas you should be buying into a Secret Mommy. “Plays” took over a year to compose and create, which is no surprise once you’ll fully listened to the darn thing. Exhaustive melodies and soundscapes with many instruments ranging from woodwinds to strings to brass to your more standard instruments like piano and drums. But this IDM-folk-pop band also employs odd ball ways to play the violin like with bubble wrap, stryofoam, balloon, plastic wrap, elastic band, tinfoil, alligator clips, and a knitting needle. The album is off-kilter, unique, and damn refreshing electronica. Oh and did I mention that no synthesizers, drum machine, or any electric instrument was used in recording this masterpiece IDM bleepy album?
- J-Sin
Point Loma — Forneo Buy it at Amazon
Dream-filled ambient soundscapes drip with emotional post-dance rhythms. Even the hippest clubs and underground DJs may have been missing out on this eclectic electronic maestro Point Loma (otherwise known as Bostich). Ravers that dare to let the music become the drug that fuels them through the evening would approve of the big dubby beats that remind one of PlateaU and other oddball cEvin Key (Skinny Puppy, Download) projects. “El Paso” is the perfect party song—great for the slow-down as the dawn breaks, or just prior to the peak of the evening’s festivities. Outstanding in every which way.
- J-Sin
SSI — E Pluribus Unum Buy it at Amazon
Audio lithium artists SSI assemble an amazing array of soundscapes throughout their industrial ambient album “E Pluribus Unum”. Groovy lowend flows underneath the layers upon layers of synths and droning rhythms. You’ll find yourself falling into a deep trance as you listen to their spacey electronic breaks and computerized melodies. Think the Orb, toss in some Kraftwerk, and allow the deep trance-riddle harmonies a long ride through your nervous system.
- J-Sin
Naomi Hall — Love Full of Punches Buy it at Amazon
Seattle-based Naomi Hall is an energetic hard-working singer/songwriter who composes electronic rock. Without a hint of irony, she pours her soul out into an opus dedicated to Ed Wood as well as her lead single “Until I Drown”, which sounds stripped straight from a Sarah McLachlan b-side remixed by some club DJ. Fantastic harmonies, fiery beats, and piano/keyboard-centric pop all whirl about this enigmatic and friendly songstress.
- J-Sin
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