My assertions about this compilation could best be summed up by saying "Leave it up to Ronnie Martin?s little label that could to assemble the most prodigious electronica bands onto one shiny, happy plastiq disq."
Lest we pine needlessly long for new Fine China tunes to brighten our lives, Healing for Angry Hearts comes along just in the nick of time. It is instantly highlights the whole album with a blend of infectious synth pop and clever writing.
Soviet?s Marbeleyezed kicks some major synth heiny, and needs to be played repeatedly, at loud volumes. (In fact, I think I?ll do that right now. Ah yeah! That?s the stuff!) With nods to Bowie, and some straight "nuevo huevo" synth, delivered with the kind of panache that makes me yearn for the days of Gary Numan, and Marc Almond, yet glad that someone has picked up the torch in this new millenium. Another absolutely fabulous track is provided by In a Lonely Place, with their song Something. Eerie, and hypnotic, it begs to be listened to with closed eyes.
Sharing musical philosophies with some of the most prolific New Wave bands of the eighties, Leiahdorus? Wake brings to mind Talk Talk, Simple Minds, Tears for Fears and Crowded House. The song escalates as it builds a musical crescendo that reaches its height with the beautiful chorus with definite Brit-synth influences.
The most improved award goes to norway, since they seemingly have gotten into a fairly solid groove after figuring out what to do with themselves. Children of the Inquisition?s Rapture and House of Wires? Isolation both make use of trippy drum loops and the type of mournfulness that is so often associated with much of underground electronica. Both are quite lovely although not recommended while driving a motor vehicle. Ultraviolet?s Trials of Love and Secret Swimmer suffer from not being decisive about where to go with their music, but still display potential.
There are a handful of contributions on this compilation that get filed under "fast and bouncy synth." Goodnight Star?s Dream Box is like synth on amphetamines. Despite the unmistakable minor-key twist, marries Jesse Carrigan?s melancholy vocals to the fast and bouncy analogue synthesizers that owe a debt of gratitude to Joy Electric?s Robot Rock period. Also in this category are I Satellite?s Bubbleboy, and Energist?s Silent Eyes, the latter of which has Garbage-esque overtones. Temper Trend clocks in at a mere 1:41, with the short but intense Heaven?s Hand, and is definitely worthy of checking out.
Firefly?s Nostalgia is unique because it does not employ a purely electronic method, and rather leans on a full band sound with keyboard accentuation, as does the Moog-y, retro-bubblegum rock on Rainbow in the Sky by Oregon?s Warp Factor Nine. Arkport?s For a Reason also uses keyboards to season their chick-rock, which is very reminiscent of Morella?s Forest, Royal, and Velour 100. Pilots vs. Aeroplanes is perhaps the synthemo that we?ve all been craving. The sleepy electronic beat nearly dissipates under the raw vocals, crashing cymbals, and guitars.
Finally, Joy Electric?s Parlor Inventor might perhaps be a glimpse of the much awaited next album, with more of that neo-Transylvanian sound, albeit without Ronnie?s trademark vocals. Only time will tell which direction he might take, but in the meantime, fans of Ronnie?s personal and collaborative efforts should definitely make use of this opportunity to pick up a copy of the new pqmq comp.
- jeanette strole