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GRAPHIC MUSIC by Jung Robot
(Robet Jung,
http://tci.homestead.com/jungrobot.html)
Review by Ben T. Steckler
This disc is subtitled "Songs Inspired by Comics". Okay. I can see in the track titles references to Mister Miracle, Preacher, Uncle Sam, Human Torch and Phantom Lady. There's even a track called "Splash Page/Wakanda", which is a reference to both the first page of a story, usually with a bold, attention-grabbing first panel, and to the homeland of T'Challa, AKA The Black Panther.
All that being said, this is Techno, and Robert Young must read his comics by the light of a Glo-Stick. I'm a much bigger fan of comics than I am of Techno music. I find it boring and repetitive, and I really loathe bands that don't really play instruments. The liner notes don't credit any musicians, so I'll assume that this was all sampled and programmed. When I think of Techno or Acid-House and Comics, the first band that comes to mind is Pop Will Eat Itself. But I'm reminded here more of Rob Zombie on the more upbeat tunes and Love & Rockets on the slower tunes. Again both artists with a comics influence. If I were a fan of Techno, I'd probably enjoy this disc, but me, if i'm in a club and they start playing this kind of music, I try to locate a pair of hypnotically-swaying boobies, and take my mind off the music.
The first time I listened to the track "Mister Miracle", I thought he was saying "Miss America". One of the hazards of that techno production, when the vocals are layered and dubbed to sound processed and garbled.
The best track is "Preacher: Fear of God". The music has more mood shifts, and tells a more complete story here. There's something to listen to, if you need to take a break from the dance. This track and "It is Uncanny" (which gives nods to Jack Kirby and Chris Claremont in its lyrics) are the ones that remind me of Love & Rockets, the band.
This is good music to dance to, or good background music for work or sex, and it gets a place in my collection because I have a thing for music that references comics.
But it's hard to just sit and listen to it. If you're a comics fan looking for some new music to trance-dance by, you might enjoy this, though, so go get yourself a copy.
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