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...
Subscribe to our mailing list
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
Datarock — Datarock Datarock Buy it at Amazon
Electro-clash Norwegian act Datarock is here to help usher in this latest fad of ultra-hip dance-punk. Leaning heavily on post-punk, their harmonies and beats are steeped in a bath of disco rhythms and dirty electro fuzz. With that said, it should serve as no surprise that the duo originally felt a common bond over their affection towards Devo, the Talking Heads (hell their singer reminds one of David Byrne at times), and the Happy Mondays. Fantastic electro punk that firmly nod towards the New Wave. Hell I’m just glad that I got invited along for the ride fellas.
- J-Sin
Bounte — One Buy it at Amazon
“One” is the debut album for Bounte, a hip-hop dance dude from Chicago. Relying heavily on the influence of Chicago’s techno and club scene, Bounte forges an industrial-strength sound of sophisticated club music. Spacious ambient soundscapes carve their own little niche into the musical psyche of Bounte but it’s his knack for sequencing and his knowledge of Chicago’s rich musical history that separates him from the rest of the players. Groovy bass is aligned nicely with fascinating production and dashingly daring electronic semi-sorta trip-hop.
- J-Sin
Bobcrane — His Mighty Hurricane Machine Buy it at Amazon
Ambient noise drones linger over top of rhythmic electronic beats and bleats of synths tickle the fancy of even the most insincere dance junkie. Truly an industrial sound, “His Mighty Hurricane Machine” sounds like the robots won and transformed us all into factory workers. Metal on metal clangs as the arid atmospherics filter out noisy artifacts. I hear evidence that Bobcrane was and still is a big fan of Swans and Godspeed You Black Emperor.
- J-Sin
Lopside — When You're Finally Through Being Responsible Buy it at Amazon
When I’m finished being responsible I have a nice cold beer at 9 AM and relax to some nice pornography. Lopside on the other hand writes compelling ambient music. Having journeyed through the realm of IDM and electronica for some time now, Lopside turns their hand at crafting a ‘life soundtrack’ which will see you from birth to death. You may not always hear it in the background, but it’s playing. If you concentrate or relax just enough, you can hear the volume being cranked up and POOF! you’re off to another world in your mind or soul. Perfect ambience for all the right moments in your life.
- J-Sin
Q*Ball — This Is Serious Business Buy it at Amazon
Q*Ball is once again back and sure to take over the club and indie music scene. After a horde of successful albums in his past, it’s his latest collaboration with friend Bumblefoot that is sure to propel him into the hearts and minds of every last human on Earth. Magically delicious harmonies and dance rhythms make “This Is Serious Business” a completely infectious listen filled to the brim with catchy hooks. While he’s just as bald as Moby, he’s a thousand times more special and nowhere near as fake as that other white bald techno guy. You’ll be wanting this album, for serious.
- J-Sin
Lesbians On Ecstasy — We Know You Know Buy it at Amazon
I’m fairly certain every living man has had a dream of finding some Lesbians high on ecstasy. But beside the pants soaking sassiness you have yourself one hell of a house dance pop group. Lesbians on Ecstasy merge psychedelic soundscapes with cleansing rhythmic beats and electro synths for a sound purely their own. While you may not see this group alongside the Indigo Girls at the next Lilith Fair, you should be seeing them on several indie tours. Forget Lords of Acid, this is the shit!
- J-Sin
The Qualia — Nevada's Greatest! Buy it at Amazon
Electronic pop that dances around electro-clash and krautrock with vocals straight from Michael Stipe’s efforts. The Qualia never tires out as they race to the finish already holding a trophy as the second coming of Fischerspooner. Talented and complicated textures are painted over with a second and third coat of sonic paint that produces a thick layer of synths, guitars, vocals, and beats. Lyrically it’s serious as it tackles prolific topics in the political and social arenas yet also explores robotic cowboys.
- J-Sin
Pedaltone — Pedaltone Buy it at Amazon
British guitarists Bernhard Wagner and Michael Bearpark join forces to collaborate on this loop-based album. Minimalism is center focus here with an ear for rhythmic textures and sonically soaring noises forging an out-of-body experience. Almost New Age in the sense that this is a very spiritual uplifting meditative piece of music artwork, Pedaltone is taking looping to the next level.
- J-Sin
Bernhard Wagner — The Fourth Night Buy it at Amazon
Zurich is the home to ambient minimalist Bernhard Wagner. “The Fourth Night” shudders with dancing vocals and slivered loops of electronic ambience. Future pop mastheads should be flown in honor of this great achievement. Light guitars speckle the often dripping wet synth pads to give it an airy and spacious palette.
- J-Sin
Volvoe — Organized Faults Buy it at Amazon
Danish electro-clash band Volvoe once again mines the late ‘80’s and early ‘90s club punk roots for influence on their new “Organized Faults”. A huge step ahead of all of the faker groups that the mainstream goes head over heels for, Volvoe manages to turn in a set of catchy tunes that are fit for dancefloors in living rooms as well as high brow lounge clubs. Power-pop chords dominate while the synths pop and weave throughout the flow of the rhythms. The title track boasts one hell of an amazing guitar solo that is looped to create tension and builds up to the eventual fade-out. Staggering!
- J-Sin
Read More Music Reviews