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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Skinny Puppy - Mythmaker
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WinterKids - Memoirs
03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Techno, Trance, Jungle, Trip-Hop, Industrial, Electronica, IDM, House, Drum&Bass
Mysteriam — Entryway Buy it at Amazon
Chicago-based Mysterium is self-described as a collaborative arts project. I can expand on that however. Call them an electronic outfit that reaches out for pop hooks bottled along with electronic ambiance, an ambivalence towards genres and classifications, and ingenious songwriting. I hear so much going on throughout “Entryway” that’s it becomes impossible to engage with each and every sound, resulting in lots of repeat listens. I love albums like this where each and every time you listen to it, you notice something new and find your mind focusing on that particular note, soundwave, or alluring hook. Fantastic.
- J-Sin
Ming & Ping — Causeway Army Buy it at Amazon
So it’s kind of odd for twins to be naked in the same bath after say, they reach double digits in age. Regardless these identical twins from Hong Kong bask in the glorious New Wave movement and reside in the still vibrant music scene of San Francisco. Having made a mark with their 2004 debut, Ming & Ping are proud to self-release their third album of electro-pop fueled New Wave. Energetic melodies and sternly danceable tracks are blended with lush instrumentation and lucid dream inspired lyrics. Beats the hell out of the mainstream lapdogs in this genre any day.
- J-Sin
Aurah — Loving Annabelle Original Soundtrack Buy it at Amazon
Swiss electronica artists Aurah treat each song as if it’s the beginning of chemistry, mixing this with that, in beakers that are bubbling with reactions and simmering with heat and cold. “Loving Annabelle”’s Original Soundtrack finds as much vocal stimulation as it does with its haunting audioscapes. Marc Dold has had five Billboard top singles as a producer while working alongside such artists as Celine Dion, Cindy Lauper, Norah Jones, Enya, Nelly Furtado, Mandy Moore, Erasure, Madonna, Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel, and LeAnn Rimes just to namedrop a bit. Composing the original feature film score for “Loving Annabelle”, was just another notch in this talented duo’s belt having filled the musical cabinet of such films as “Blood Diamond”, “Little Miss Sunshine”, and “Blood & Chocolate”. Beautiful and simple music.
- J-Sin
Spyder Baby — Let Us Prey Buy it at Amazon
Electronic metal group Spyder Baby turned the head of Al Jourgensen (Ministry) who took Detroit native guitarist/vocalist Stevie Banch under his wing after their ’04 demo. “Let Us Prey” is a gothic nod to the mayhem that Ministry produced for over two decades. Thick guitars rock with a punk and almost Southern bar brawl twang to them. “Let Us Prey” features a Jourgensen remix/co-production in “Bitter”, which most certainly sounds like something from the camp of Al.
- J-Sin
Various Artists — Twin Cities Electropunk Vol. 4 Buy it at Amazon
Minnesota’s electro and synth-rock scenes have been getting a major boost from the kind folks in Avenpitch and their collaborations with other electro groups via these compilations. Avenpitch starts things off with a punk-y ‘80’s party rocker in “Desperado” complete with fun-filled Zelda-inspired synth choruses. Milkbar’s “Stop (Check Me Out)” gets the adrenaline pumping with their female-fronted electro pop anthem. Other notable inclusions are Zibra Zibra, ikki, Amdeide, and Mach FoX. Peep ‘em.
- J-Sin
GASR — Reptile Buy it at Amazon
Reminding one of Icon of Coil, GASR is a gothic industrial dance outfit that punishes the listener with hard edged dance beats and harsh EBM similar to Frontline Assembly. Having released politically-based music before, “Reptile” continues that trend with discontent over public policy and the Bush administration’s rule of America. Haunting harmonies amid dark electro ala Wumpscut, GASR seems poised to purse their lips with melodic industrial beats and fashionable dance filler. Very enjoyable.
- J-Sin
Gintas K — 13 Tracks Buy it at Amazon
Post-minimal techno that drives one to the rhythm of hard jungle, sine waves, and drones. This is music for all kinds that have left the realm of your standard fare electronica for something far leftfield and different. “13 Tracks” is just that, thirteen tunes that are tuneless, magnificent, and creepy. All in a post-Brian Eno sort of world. Weird experimental crunches that have few lapses in quality post-techno whirls.
- J-Sin
Ghost In the House — Ghost In the House Buy it at Amazon
Sounding like, well, a Ghost in the House, the band utilizes traditional as well as obscure instruments to craft a soundscape that is eerie and sublime. What sort of instruments you mutter? How about a lap steel guitar, gongs, oboe, English horn, buffalo drum, and various percussion. Well those sound relatively straight-forward, what are these obscure ones you mention? How about invented instruments like the water phone, t-rodimba, and crustacean? Yeah that’s pretty out there. It’s odd avant-garde experimental soundtrack music that will blow your damn mind.
- J-Sin
Sharaab — Evolution Buy it at Amazon
Considered by many as a pioneer of the Asian techno (or Asian Massive if you want) scene, Sharaab might surprise you that he’s based out of Atlanta. Utilizing sounds from India, Sharaab adds addictive floor-filling rhythms to seamless mixing and old school electro synth stabs. Tons of vintage and retro keyboards are utilized in his projects and “Evolution” is no exception from that rule of thumb. Layered techno and electro with Indian and Asian influences that is perfectly fit for Talvin Singh fans.
- J-Sin
Conure — The Generation of Our Grandfathers Buy it at Amazon
Cast your mind back to the summer of 2003. Conure was watching a documentary broadcast on HBO as he was packing for a soon-to-be-canceled (unbeknownst to him) move to Berlin called “Paragraph 175” which discussed the Nazi persecution of homosexuals under Paragraph 175 of the German Penal Code of 1871. Much like most of us, Conure did not know much of the details of the persecution other than it did indeed happen. This documentary was so riveting that Conure quickly pieced together this audio soundtrack of lo-fi experimental ambience in an effort to persuade others to learn more and unleash the emotions that Conure felt while watching this film. Rarely now-a-days do we hear of movies inspiring music, but Mark Wilson aka Conure’s work on “The Generation of Our Grandfathers” will hopefully not only bring notice to such an important piece of history but also remind us that the act of paying tribute via sound is an impeccable way to bring attention to any issue or idea.
- J-Sin
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