This compilation has the distinction of being released by MRE, a label operated by Jason Bazinet of SMP, the singular band most rivetheads would pigeonhole as the industrial-rap genre. Bazinet’s choices with A Murderous Mix are ideal, portraying a broad vision of a subversive style that demands not only attention, but its own permanent slice of your iPod’s hard drive. Industrial veterans SMP, Penal Colony and Tankt are shuffled amongst the likes of Loyal Opposition, Fatal Wisdom and others who lean more toward the rap spectrum, creating an excellent equilibrium and a consistently infectious collection of tracks that draw upon influences from Johnny Cash and Laibach to Korn and—wait—is that an entire song by The Punk Group devoted to hating Toby Keith?! This type of niche album comes along only once in a blue moon, and it’s even rarer to find one of this quality and solid perfection from track 1 to 18. Did I mention the bonus video for SMP’s “The Perfect Day”, and a code printed on the packaging for even more free downloads? The reasons to pick up this comp just don’t stop, yo.
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First impression: the disc arrives packaged in a spartan black digipak with a hand-numbered pink sticker. Inside is a single pink chicken feather. I don’t get the symbolism, but I find it endearing in that John Waters/Pink Flamingos kind of way. The music itself is decidedly more advanced than their previous effort, with BADmachine benefiting from Hate Dept.’s Seibold taking on the role of producer. Casey LeBleu’s spasmodic style and vocals have been polished noticeably, catapulting Carcrash into an entirely new arena loaded with smooth, focused synths, aggressive industrial influence and samples from movies as diverse as The Neverending Story and Falling Down. And did I mention more 80s-style synth hooks than a chicken (flamingo) has got feathers? Topped off with excellent remixes by Hate Dept., Think Tank, Americlone and Information Society’s Paul Robb, BADmachine is a versatile and likeable release with a “something for everyone” appeal.
I’ve had this sucker earmarked in my “to review” pile as something unique. I’ll admit—I occasionally judge a book by its cover, and The Cleaner is fascinating in its beautifully grotesque simplicity. Luckily the music is just as strange and captivating, blending elements of electronica, caustic industrial, and purely experimental meanderings into a soundtrack for a distressed and condemned cityscape. Hints of Coil and early Front 242 drip through the cracks, though only in short bursts as the music lurches and scurries on like an army of frantic ants escaping some unknown disaster. The “dirty” distortions and effects on the almost-minimal pieces lend irony to the title, and make The Cleaner so evocative. If the devil is in the details, this disc is surely banned from the Vatican.
For the Good of Rock & Roll. The tantalizing, yet presumptuous words are laid upon an otherwise unassuming album cover, just below the initials of Damien Tavis Toman. This is both a blazing declaration of rock and roll’s mediocre half-life and an invitation to witness a marvel that injects new vitality into it. Ranging from powerfully infectious folk anthems to tragic lamentations, each eclectic piece fulfills the promise of musical salvation and ensures that this purveyance of rich and deeply introspective songs is also the highlight of Toman’s extensive dossier in every aspect. Complexity, structure and vocals are enhanced threefold for this effort. Raw, emotional lyrics are belted out with as much conviction as the layers of multi-faceted instrumentation, proving that the anchoritic nature of a one-man band can incubate a virtual Galapagos of diverse and extraordinary styles. Like a great painting, this album yields something new every time it’s experienced, proving that it is indeed intended for the good of rock-and-roll.
O, yelworC—how can any match your delectable evil? Rife with occult references and the most choice horror samples, Icolation is not only an anxiety- and fear-inducing masterpiece, but it also trumps the darkest of dark electronic music anywhere. One could liken it to Skinny Puppy, but only if they existed in an alternate Marvel Universe where they were fucked up superzombies. Compared to previous yelworC offerings, Icolation delivers what their fans would gladly make human sacrifices for…thematic tracks with slithering vocals, sour guitar slices and intricate programming backed up by netherworldly anthems of doom. If you have to trade a first born to get it (though most outlets are significantly cheaper), go for it.
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