New band Paradigm Lost is Shane Matsumoto, and Joe Liedtke with Ian Baird and Spring Clock Wonder. Matsumoto has also handled most of the production and engineering on this eclectic music CD which refuses to be pigeon holed. It is sometimes rock, sometimes alternative, even jazz, but mostly avant-garde industrial. The liner notes do not give any clues as to who plays or sings what, but whoever is handling the guitar work has done an able job, with a chunky, fuzzy guitar mixing it up with the industrial noise. There is a pounding back beat as well, from what sounds like mostly real drums to me.
The music moves quickly and keeps my interest. The more noisy industrial numbers are well constructed, and the music moves through the head like a machine mind drill, carrying the listener along for the ideas. The fifth and title track, Human, is a more airy, almost trip hop tune, with some cool discord under and over a smooth bass line.
There are not many vocals on the record but the ones I did pick up on are clearly Christian. The track after Human speaks of sola fide (faith alone), ridding oneself of any kind of a "works mentality" in a song that grinds through a metal/industrial din. Throughout the record, some of the vocals are distorted and some are clear, adding to the mélange.
Although the production is a tad lacking and the record has flowing problems, this multifarious, energetic music is worthy of notice if you are interested in checking out the fringe elements of the avant-garde industrial scene. The record is brimming with raw talent.
3.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #74Reviewed by Chad OlsonHere's a very ambient disc with an industrial tinge. The production is clean, yet it has a seemingly small sound. The vocals, while mostly distorted, are somewhat buried in the mix. For all you Mac users, this is an enhanced cd, including the band's latest video. To get "Lost," send a check for $13. Check out the band's song, "The Riddle," on this issue's Hard Music Sampler CD.Similar sounding releases
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