If you've not already read the review of Fatal Blast Whip--Seduction then you should read it first. This review will refer back to that one a good bit. If you have already read that one then please continue.
This is another EP from Blacklight Records. This one contains 10 tracks instead of the 9 that FBW had, however it only has 3 original songs. Mislead, Addiction and Shame. That leaves tracks 2 through 8 for nothing but remixes of the title song Mislead.
You may have been fortunate enough to have heard Torn Skin on the Collapsing Structure compilation with the song Shame, and if so you've probably been awaiting this release quite anxiously. I know I have.
FBW had 4 remixes and it was a good move to lengthen the CD using that method but 7 remixes is a bit too much. Now as I said in the FBW review I feel the best version is the original and that holds true to Torn Skin as well. Mislead is a killer song, and the remixes just don't seem to do it justice. Now in defense of this CD, my wife (who is much more into techno/dance than me and less into industrial and darker music) prefers songs with less lyrics and probably (had this not been so dark sounding) would have enjoyed the remixes better than me. However, I'm the one reviewing this CD not her.
I will say that the Club remix by Pivot Clowj is my favorite of the remixes, a nice steady beat again as done on FBW, and still manages to use most all of the lyrics! The other remixes I won't cover as I did before, there are so many and the styles vary so greatly from one to another, suffice it to say that even with all the remixes of the same song at times it's difficult to say it's the same song. They are THAT different sounding.
Addiction is the next original track. Now we're back to true Torn Skin, this song is, as with Mislead, really freaking good. Thick sounding heavy industrial with a combination of male and female vocals gives Torn Skin their own sound. The last track on this CD is Shame which you may be familiar with, but if not it's a track that should not be missed.
Lyrics are pretty solid here. Take this piece from Addiction:
Surrounded by the Enemy
I call for you to set me free.
Come and cut my puppet strings
and end my persecution
I crave the freedom that your love brings
It's a sweet addiction.
Overall I really enjoyed the original music by Torn Skin and would love to see a full length album by this group. I think there were too many remixes here however. Torn Skin is a killer band I want to hear more by!
6.5/10
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Joe RockstrohIn order to make good remixes, you need the original material to be solid stuff. Happily, Torn Skin does just that with this EP. With a solid grasp of post-industrial rock and a penchant for melody, Torn Skin will appeal to old-school industrial fans and those of the NIN generation as well. The trade-off vocals between Jennifer Happach's angelic purr and Rob Buhl's raspy, distorted voice is…Dead Zine 1999Reviewed by sesspoolwell... not the best darkwave techno you'll find, but it is very decently made. The number one problem listeners will have with this album: 10 tracks, 3 songs. Up through track 8 are remixes of mislead. This may not upset some... or even most darkwave/techno enthusiasts... but I got tired of "they want to lift you up..." over and over. I was unsure as to reviewing this album on Dead or not... as…Similar sounding releases
1998Cult of Jesterfunkatron
1999A Different Kind of CopAnother Everyday Occurrence
1994Argyle ParkMisguided
2000Fatal Blast WhipConstellation
1995Nine Inch NailsFurther Down the Spiral
1999HardknoxHardknox
