Get ready, the synth-pop revolution is underway, and now is the time to get on board. N-Soul Records' Eclectica imprint has dug up some of the coolest electronic dance-pop outfits since '80s new wave went AWOL to present to you Electrapop, a 17-song compilation that ranges from cheesy pop to industrial. Some are instant hits; some miss the mark. One thing is clear, however: the Echoing Green is not alone. There are a lot of great synth-pop artists out there carrying on the tradition, and they're just waiting for the right moment to come out from underground.
Of course, one could not have an electra-pop collection without a brand-new song from The Echoing Green, and it leads off this CD in splendid fashion. "If I Could..." is true to form, heavy on the synth and Joey's smooth vocals, and probably one of the best tracks on Electrapop. Echoing Green fans will already recognize the song from the Electronica indie CD, but it deserves to be included in such good company here. Other well-known names contributing tracks are Painted Orange and Aleixa, plus a track from Virus's Odd CD, "Sun." Aleixa's "Purge" is very cool and very industrial, but Painted Orange's "I Will Look To You" sounds like a leftover that didn't make it onto Out of Egypt. Don't get me wrong, though, it's still very nice. Massivivid, whose "Fleshwood (Aleixa remix)" is included here, has just released their debut on Tattoo Records. If "Fleshwood" is any indication, Massivivid might be the Next Big Thing in dance. Everybody else on this collection is a relative unknown, but that may be changing soon with the release of this disc.
Of the independent bands on this compilation, about half of them are fantastic or almost, while three or four are just okay, and a couple don't quite make it. Eclectica partnered with Flaming Fish Records to give these artists the exposure they deserve, and it's safe to say most of them not only deserve attention, but are good enough to have full-length CDs and tours of the hottest dance spots in the country. I thought My Rubicon 7, Kaboing, Paradox, Zeta, and Voxis were the absolute best of the indies, especially My Rubicon 7's "The Sky Is Falling." Paradox and Voxis are darker, with female vocalists, though Voxis' singer hit a couple flat notes that made me cringe. Kaboing sounds a lot like the Echoing Green, with guitar over synth-pop, but with female vocals.
Examining vocals throughout this compilation, there's an even mix of male and female over the course of Electrapop, which is nice to see in a realm that used to be male-dominated. There's also an even division between darker-textured moods and lighter, happier ones. Tempestuous All is pretty dark, and not bad, with "Burning Bridges," as is Transfiguration's "Hypocrisy." Conversely, Kaboing and Zeta are pretty upbeat, while Remedy and Red Sector One are somewhere in between. These last two are merely okay, and could stand some refinement. Zeta reminds me a lot of early Code of Ethics, so being the Code fan I am, I really like their track, "Transcend."
The only tracks I did not like were from Pivot Clowj, Happy Little Day, and Color Theory, because of some quality issues. Granted, Pivot Clowj wins the prize for coolest band name, but their "Metamorphosis 2" sounds a bit dated. It's happy, and not too fast in a semi-ambient vein, but something just sounds wrong in the middle, maybe the keyboard effect following the beat. The problem with Happy Little Day is the vocals; they're very weak. Color Theory has some vocal issues too, but my main complaint about them is that they're not an electronic band - they're pure pop and don't really belong on this disc. They have the potential to be really good, though, with some vocal improvement. In fact, if anything from any artist on Electrapop is trouble, it's not the music or the lyrics at all - it's the vocals. But, the majority of these artists are awesome, and while the music makes you bounce, pogo, and dance, the lyrics will give you a fresh, emotional expression of your faith in many ways.
Who should check out Electrapop? Anyone who likes to dance, loves the Echoing Green, Painted Orange, Code of Ethics, '80s new wave, and anything under the synth-pop umbrella. This is a great collection of some talented, exciting artists who should be on labels with full projects, and pumping out of radical radio stations with the guts to challenge mainstream dance. Don't be afraid to pick it up and test out some of these indie groups or groove with old friends providing new tracks for your enjoyment.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Shari LloydThis compilation was a joint effort by Eclectica Music of N*Soul and Flaming Fish Records, an effort to support Christian independent electronic artists. The bands represented play mainly a pop, radio friendly form of electronica, with styles ranging from synth-pop, to Euro-dance, to industrial. A number of the groups were new to me but their tracks fit the album well and are well performed. The…
