Joy Electric

Item: Robot Rock
Author: Jason Gilmour

Robot Rock

(1997)

Reviewed by Jason Gilmour

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Label BEC RecordingsThe Stoutonia Vol 88 #6October 9, 1997

electronic electronica synth pop techno

With applause from such magazines as Seconds and Magnet, as well as the Alternative Press, Joy Electric is set to release its latest CD Robot Rock on BEC Recordings. Joy Electric is a two-man synthesizer only band from Orange County, California who have previously released two LPs and two EPs on Tooth and Nail Records. Robot Rock, set to be released in late October, is electronica rock tweaked through an old Roland Modular Analog synthesizer. Joy Electric is pop, pure and simple, techno/rave pop designed for movement of the feet, flashing of the colorful lights, and cranking of the volume. The vocals are very light and airy, seeming almost secondary to the thick bass lines buzzing throughout the CD.

Robot Rock is an impressive display of Analog synthesizer capabilities, and is perfect for the avid raver, however, with the synth being the only true instrument, the CD seems to get a little two dimensional, flat and fairly repetitive. The whispering falsetto voice of Ronnie Martin, lead vocalist, is also quite monotonous, and obviously not intended to be closely listened to and analyzed, especially for lyrical content.

Personally speaking: I'm not a fan of rave; if you read last week's review of Value Pac you found out my views on the present state of punk music. Well, the same theory applies to this style of drum monotony; if you didn't read it, well, read it! I'm not going to reiterate. The fact is that this band does have its niche, I just like to listen to music for other reasons than to "shake my booty."