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Press
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Lexicon Magazine Review
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For those who doesn't have a copy of DBP's Halo Compilation yet and for those of you that don't know anything about it well, HaLO is a 13-track assortment with new music from different electro, Industrial & synthpop acts, all of whom live within 20 miles or so of Madison. If you're not from Madison, Wisconsin, or you simply haven't taken advantage of the fact that this kind of talent regularly appears there this is your chance to appreciate it in one convenient package.You will find here well knows acts like Stromkern (WTII), Oneiroid Psychosis (COP Int) and Null Device (Nilaihah), rising new stars Echo Virus, Stochastic Theory and other lesser known upstars but all contributed totally cool tracks, making this compilation a 100% worth buying. The compilation is named after a local underground music night held every Tuesday at The Inferno (www.clubinferno.com) in Madtown, and the title reflects its content: The very best that Madison's Electronic scene has to offer. DJ Matt Fanale aka DJ Eurotic, the man behind Dead Beat Productions and the one to compile this collection of electronic new artists, contributes himself music to this compilation. The disc's first half is very synthpop. The second half is darker, featuring more upper tempo industrial oriented sounds and grooves. 12 of the 13 tracks here have never before released. Alex Matheu of Negative Format was in charge of mastering.
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Gothic Beauty spring '04 issue
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5 out of 5 stars:
Dead Beat Productions sent us the above compilation representing tracks
from their entire catalog and, boy, is it one impressive listen! The
opener, Stochastic Theory's "Shared Lies" sound like something straight
out of the days of Cause & Effect and Seven Red Seven. This is electronic
music as it is meant to be. It is bright, flowing, synthetic, and
bursting with energy. Oneiroid Psychosis, previously featured in Gothic
Beauty, make a brilliant appearance with "First the Head, Then The Body".
Brian Schuh's "The One Who Dismissed Me Again" stood out as my favorite.
Brilliant artwork and extensive liner notes on the artists rounds out a
truly impressive collection. As the liner notes themselves say: "This
compilation wants to kick your ass. It deserves to kick your ass. Your
ass, in fact, demands it." So what are you waiting for?
-Poseidon
(DBP note: I find it funny that we got a higher rating than Suicide Commando, Melotron and The Cruxshadows. Not that is actually IS better than them, it's just funny, is all. Oh, and this is DPB/Sonic Mainline's first release. We have no "catalog" just yet, but are working on it.) |
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www.gothling.com
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4.5 out of 5 stars
This is, quite simply, not your father's compilation. Really. This is a fine first-time offering from Dead Beat Productions, a Madison, Wisconsin -based music promoter. The compilation is even named after a local underground music night held every Tuesday at The Inferno (www.clubinferno.com) in good old Madtown, and the title reflects its content: Thevery best that Madison's Electronic scene has to offer. The Electronic scene in Madison, WI is small but getting bigger all the time, and its incestuous in a way, as evidenced by the crossover of musicians from one group to another. Even DJ Matt Fanale (aka Eurotic), the hard-working man behind Dead Beat Productions, contributes music to this compilation.
This compilation puts it's best synth forward from the beginning. It starts with Stochastic Theory's 'Shared Lies', an angsty bit of synthpop from this up-and-coming band. Dj Desmodus (Chuck Spencer) works out some of his residual relationship-angst through music, with excellent results and lyrics like 'I wish I could say I saw you; I wish that we could share that lie; Since I never really knew you, I can't even say goodbye.' It's a track every bit as danceable as his nearly club-classic 'What You Weren't' that appeared on the Septic III compilation this past year. The second track is a delightful electro offering from Ensku, a side-project of the better-known Null Device. Although Ensku usually produces more flowing housey pieces, this song 'All is Fair' is a wonderful synth track with luscious echoing vocals by Jill Goedken. The beats come a little harder than a lot of synthpop, and that's fine by me.
Brian Schuh's music is usually compared to the likes of Erasure and Pet Shop Boys, with plenty of oontz. Very smooth synthwork here, in 'The One Who Dismissed Me Again'. If you like getting your disco on, this is the track for you. M00ntz! Is this compilation's super-group, consisting of members of Null Device, Stochastic Theory, and Caustic. 'I Don't Want Her (And Neither Do You)' reminisces about their collective worst dating experiences in an amusing way, with beat-busting electro background. You may recognize the vocalists. Echo Virus, an offshoot of Stromkern, provides a most welcome surprise on this album. I was familiar with some of Echo Virus' previous remix work but not originals. 'Stranded (8 hours)' proves that Echo Virus can stand on its own two feet.
If you hear a Stromkern-like twist on the vocal lines, its hardly surprising. This song is so good that I can hardly describe it.
The Signal 12 song 'Anesthetized' is the only track on here that has previously appeared on another release, the COP International release 'Aphonia'. The Hansen brothers, Lars and Leif, also of Oneiroid Psychosis, spin a dark beat- electronic web with Signal 12. 'Anesthetized' has very gloomy and raw vocals above a downtempo electronic atmosphere. It's a nice sorbet amongst the lighter fare on this compilation.
No Madison electro compilation would be complete without an offering from the patron saint of the Madison electronic scene, Null Device. 'Electrified' follows in the 'Footsteps' of the Sublimation album, but adds a bit more urgency than previously. The fast drum loops and precise synth and bass make this song extremely danceable, and like all Null Device tracks it flows so seamlessly from beginning to end, that you'll be surprised when it has come to an end. Eric's vocals are mellifluous and strong.
At this point the compilation takes a darker turn into heavier industrial soundscapes. It turns with a laugh, though, with the Gothsicles' 'English License (The How-Did-We-Get-On-This-Comp? Mix)'. Musically it's a really tight EBM/industrial song that gets the body moving, and in my opinion their best song yet that doesn't deal with videogames or Transformers. The dissonant shouted vocals by DarkNES may be hard to understand in places, but what we have is an indictment of various foreign industrial bands who sing in English with dubious grammar. 'Project Pitchfork, E-Craft, and Funker Vogt, your English License has been revoked!'
Ctrlshft is one of those bands that is hardly known, but should be. Like Echo Virus, its one of my surprise gems on this compilation. 'Half-Life' is an excellent grinding industrial track, reminiscent of the dark atmospheres of Skinny Puppy, yet not slavishly so. Fans of industrial music, by all means go to the man's mp3.com site and see what else he has to offer - I doubt you'll be disappointed. This track is a fantastic synthesis of old and new styles.
Oneiroid Psychosis offers up another delightfully gruesome instrumental soundscape with 'First the Head, then the Body'. The song starts with samples of a woman, obviously upset, shouting an argument over bass-heavy breaks. I don't know how they do it, managing to evoke such dread, fear, and sublimation all at once. 'Incendiary' by Caustic (aka the man in the corner behind the compilation) is a nice tasty powernoise track, with all the nice heavy elements one comes to associate with powernoise. Only, it has vocals too, in a gruff industrial style.
'Ruin', the first track in two years by Stromkern, is the long-lost stepchild of the 'Armageddon' album - related, but not by blood. I like this un-filled sparseness that appears in this song. Stromkern is as passionate as ever. The Dark Clan (a rearrangement of 'Dan Clark', Rattbelly guitarist and live Null Device guitarist) provides 'LeStat in Cuba', a quirky bossa nova gothic romp. Sound like an odd juxtaposition? You have to hear it. This is a marvelous song. It reminds me of the Romanian folky goth band Arc Gotic, only with more rhythm and electronic lines. It's hard to make a song about vampires not sound silly, but the Dark Clan accomplishes this and much more.
You should buy this CD 'cause its good, it's cheap, it's independent and local, and it represents a lot of hard work on the part of plain old folks who love electronic music and strive to put some new electronic music into the world.
Recommended if you like: damn good electro and synth music, duh!
-bloodlossgirl |
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www.corrode.org
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2003-07-29
Okay, let the dick-sucking commence.
I figured I'd get this out of the way. There's no way to review a compilation of the best electro/synth bands Madison has to offer without sounding like a sycophantic jackass. But let's face it, you can't swing a dead cat in this town without clocking at least 3 synthpop musicians across the forehead. If I say it's good, you'll just say, "Bah, he's only saying that to suck up to the musicians." Well, let me set the record straight by saying up front that I absolutely loathe all these artists with a hatred so cold it burns. So when I say something is worth a listen, you know I'm being sincere. In fact, I'll share something embarrassing about each group, just to separate my review of the music from my relationship with/flattery of the artist.
The Halo Compilation, for those of you that don't know, is a 13-track assortment with new music from different electro & synthpop acts, all of whom live within 20 miles or so of our own beloved Madison. If you're not from Madison, or you simply haven't taken advantage of the fact that this kind of talent regularly appears in your own backyard, this is your chance to appreciate it in one convenient package.
I'll start with the obvious. Stage veterans Stromkern appear with a new track, Ruin, that carries nicely forward with their momentum from their last album, Armageddon. Ruin is an excellently blended mix of staccato grooves and crunchy bass of their later work, combined seamlessly with angrily soaring, melancholic, Dammerung Im Traum-era vocals. In their spare time, Stromkern's Ned and Kelly put on stewardess outfits and rape lawn gnomes.
Next we have long-time-producer-but-only-recent-performer, Null Device. These guys have been putting out some of the finest synthpop this side of Iceland since before I came to this town, and their contribution, Electrified, is no exception. The ethereal and moving vocals deliver beautiful, well-written lyrics on top of layers upon layers of bouncy, rich synth. We're talking synth for days, here people. Null Device's Eric Oehler runs a white slavery ring out of the basement of his west-side Madison home.
Then we have Leif and Lars Hansen, the veteran swoonygoth keyboard-monkeys behind Oneiroid Psychosis. Their brand of creepy ambient electronic music has set them apart, not just in this area but all over the country. You can listen to this comp, hear the music that sounds like a cross between the Quake soundtrack, the Twilight Zone and something from a Victorian waltz, and you say to yourself, "Hey! It's Oneiroid Psychosis! They rock." They appear on this comp with two tracks: First the Head, Then the Body is an otherworldy instrumental that continues their proud tradition of the creepily hypnotic. As Signal 12, the Oneiroid side project, they come at us with the funkier but equally fit-for-a-horror-movie-soundtrack Anesthetized. Lars & Leif love the Highlander movies, and have a life-size cardboard cutout of Christopher Lambert in their home, which they speak to regularly.
Then we got the new guys. Stochastic Theory, a relatively recent act out of Madison, delivers a track called Shared Lies that, like most of their work, is a solidly danceable, bitterly nostalgic, truly emotive work of synthpoppy goodness. It flows perfectly from beginning to end, skirting the boundary between bouncy and angsty with depth and style. Never before have I wanted to bounce around the dance floor and egg my ex-girlfriend's car at the same time. Front man Chuck Spencer once tried to get me into a game of strip Magic: the Gathering.
Brian Schuh's The One Who Dismissed Me Again was the sleeper track of the comp, in my opinion. I turn to get a drink or something, and then suddenly WHACK, there's that fucking dead cat again. Equally fit for the dancefloor or the breakup mix CD, this addition contains one of the only uses of a vocoder that actually comes across with class and subtlety. I don't have a lot of dirt on Mr. Schuh, but I can make shit up. Um... one time he... uh... I think he kissed a guy. Yeah, that works.
Ensku, a collaboration between Null Device's Eric Oehler and Jill Goedken, promises to be one of the best tag-teams since the Masked Crippler joined forces with El Jugador Maldito. Miss Goedken's voice on All is Fair is, to put it mildly, transcendent, and the 00ntzy melody perfectly compliments the delicacy of her singing. I'm pretty sure Jill Goedken is an ex-Fly Girl.
Speaking of collaborations, the trio that makes up m00ntz! gives us the funniest and most well-done rant I've ever had the pleasure of being set to music, I Don't Want Her (And Neither Do You). The otherwise melancholy Eric Oehler and Chuck Spencer team up with our own Matt Fanale to tell us all what we all knew already: girls are crazy, and boys are stupid.
Stromkern side project Echo Virus slows it down with Stranded, a sorrowful blend of subtle percussion and harmonizing choruses. Ned and Kelly like to dress up in... oh wait, I already said that one.
On the harder side we have ctrlshift's Halflife, a dark and stompy piece of electro-clash that ranks up there as one of my personal favorites. Disorted vocals, dissonant synth chords, and some nice hard bass that stays crunchy in milk make this one stand out among its less angry co-Madisonians. Definitely worth a listen. Oh, and Josev kicks puppies.
The crack-addled Gothsicles track, English License, has turned out to be one of my guilty pleasures on this comp, for three reasons: 1) They have music from a Nintendo game, 2) Mr. DarkNES raps at 200 bpm and still sounds good, and 3) they successfully rhymed something with the words, "Funker Vogt". You will find yourself skipping back to this one. It's way too hard to embarass someone who wears a Nintendo PowerGlove on stage, so I'm not even gonna try.
Next in the selection is Caustic with Incendiary, a piece that pretty much defines the phrase "Grrr spit industrial" with gravelly vocals and percussion that's like rubbing sandpaper on the genitals of someone you really dislike, plus the sandpaper is on fire and you're drunk and you're inside an abandoned rivet factory. And mad props for using the phrase "flame on" in there.
Lastly we have the Dark Clan, from former Rattbelly singer/guitarist, current Null Device singer/guitarist, Dan Clark, with Lestat in Cuba. Soooooooooooooooo goth........ I mean.... Damn. This track is blacker than the inside of a black, black bird that was covered in pitch and locked in a safe at the earth's core. Goth enough to make Peter Murphy look like Homer Simpson by comparison. And he uses the word "diaphenously"!! You can't go wrong!! Also Dan goes to convenience stores just to pee in the travel coffee mugs.
Okay... (wipes chin)... This went on too long, so lemme end this by saying we in Madison are lucky to have this kind of talent and drive so omnipresent in our community. We're goddamn spoiled, is what we are, and I feel sorry for anyone that doesn't take advantage of the art coming out of every orifice of this city. So pick up Halo and enjoy.
Reviewed by Seth Riley, aka Office Ninja |
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Isthmus Review
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The advent of cheap digital recording technology and even cheaper distribution over the internet has compacted the music world in ways that just weren't anticipated in the 1980s. The high synth-pop era influences much of the music on Halo, a compilation of various electronically oriented Madison acts who've clustered around the Inferno nightclub. Today, any of these artists could be played around the world with the click of a mouse, and many deserve to be.
The disc's first half owes a lot to one key '80s hitmaker, Depeche Mode, which made an enormous impression on U.S. audiences, especially on the West Coast. Of this work, Echo Virus' "Stranded" is the most individualistic, with wispy, melancholic synths and a more deliberate rhythm track communicating the near-paralytic sense of anomie that infuses much industrial music. Halo's second half pays larger rewards, with Signal 12 burrowing deep into the darkness on their arid "Anesthetized," Null Device upping the tempo and the funk beneath the moderne love thang "Electrified," and both Ctrlshft and industrial-goth greats Stromkern referencing old-school heroes like Cabaret Voltaire and Ministry on particularly prime cuts.
Anne Rice fans also won't want to miss the Dark Clan's drama-soaked electro-rhumba "Lestat in Cuba." It's a toothsome bit of goth camp.
Reviewed by Tom Laskin |
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www.clubhaven.net
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From the depths of Madison, WI comes the comp you must own.
Full of talent and 90% of this CD are unreleased tracks to boot. Many
of the tracks on this CD can easily fill dance-floors in almost any scene.
A delectable buffet of Industrial/Synth-Pop and Electro and even a dash of Goth. Standout tracks on this CD include…Stochastic Theory, Brian Schuh, -
Echo Virus, Signal 12, CtrlShft and Stromkern. All these track offer up a very healthy does of dance-floor Tunes. But two other tracks tend to also
satisfy my need for Goth and Punk. The Gothsicles humorous-punk protest
to “mainstream” Electro/Industrial is reminiscing of See Colin Slash and
The Dark Clan’s “LeStat in Cuba” is very brave and creative in its mixture
of true Goth with a Cuban flare and is extremely danceable.
If you have a need for a slight change in the normal status-quo then pick
this one up on-line. Money Order or Paypal accepted. [Mystchief]
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HaLO Review - Todd Durrant - A Different Drum
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Various Artists "Halo - The Best of Madtown Electro and Synth" $10 -- Every once in a while, I'm surprised by a compilation that shows off some new talent that I hadn't heard of before. This CD kicks off with some really good lesser-known synthpop stuff from bands like Stochastic Theory, Ensku, Brian Schuh, Moontz!, Echo Virus, and Signal 12. There's a great song by Null Device (one of my personal favorite new-comer bands). Then the compilation changes pace a bit to the harder edge with a band called The Gothsicles that just made me fall over laughing. The song is called "English License (The How-Did-We-Get-On-This-Comp? Mix)" and it boldly makes fun of some of the popular European industrial bands who have somewhat quirky English language lyrics. The way this song is obnoxiously yelled, it's hard to understand it's own lyrics, but the chorus ends with stuff like, "Project Pitchfork, E-Craft, and Funker Vogt, your English license has been revoked!" In fact, here is a link to the hilarious lyrics: http://www.uwm.edu/~graupner/lyrics.html The rest of the tracks on the compilation then turn more industrial, but it's worth it for the first half. |
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