 Future Sound of London It's time the kids realized that this electronic music phenomenon stems much more directly from mid-80s new age than from any strand of rock'n'roll. But then who needs history when the music moves ya? This long-form CD single delves deeply into the FSOL song "Lifeforms" with seven different reconstructions and with varying types of ambiance. Overall, the general impression left is similar to the better moments of early-80s Tangerine Dream crossed with the Cocteau Twins (thanks to Elizabeth Fraser, who supplies vocals). The CD is frightening, but not in a threatening way … not a menacing nightmare, more of a "worrying about taxes" funkcloud. FSOL toys with world music stylings on the periphery of their synth explorations, but doesn't ever cross over into Enigma-land (meaning, you won't find these guys on Pure Moods V). They make the sort of "futuristic" music that will sound incredibly dated by the time that future actually does roll around and we're all sitting in our blackened-out apartments sipping what remains of our potable liquidsand listening to Klaus Nomi, blaring from the alien motherships that hang in the sky, blotting out the sun. Overall, this EP is a better-than-average electronic noodlefest, although it's the aural equivalent of a made-for-TV movie. Oh, The Day After, how you scare me still.
Review by Lymon Sargent-Pharmacy |