Beatbox Machinery - New Wave Avalanche
Beatbox Machinery returns with an all-out ass kicker called New Wave Avalanche or N.W.A. for short. The opening track is the only instrumental output on the release. The rest of the tracks all have vocals which is a bit different this time around. The vocal element has always been present in the past, but usually reserved for special moments that surprise the listener with another tier to Beatbox's talents.
Beatbox Machinery will immediately captivate your attention with the opening track 'N.W.A'. It's a fast paced instrumental, blending minimal and electro influences with quick and quirky beats and all sorts of additional sounds integrated into the music. After 'N.W.A.' ends, your curiosity level is heightened. What will 'A Modern Way To Die' bring to the table"? It stands out with its straight ahead approach with a stomping beat. Toxic Razor's vocals are pleasant to the ear with a smooth yet raw approach, giving a slight live vibe to the flow of the song. 'A New World Of Shit' stays on par with what makes 'A Modern Way To Die' so interesting, with its quick beats and spiraling synths that command the listener's full attention. 'Slavestate' glistens with a murky bubbling foundation that oozes a sludgier and slower sound. 'Slavestate' is a tempo changer leading into the minimal brilliance of 'Wasteland' and 'Deoxidize The Union', which are the finest displays on this release from the song arrangements, tempo alterations to the vocals and the overall sound. Both 'Wasteland' and 'Deoxidize The Union' along the rest of the N.W.A. are charged with Toxic Razor's negative outlook of the political and economic situation in his home country of Greece.
If you like the vocal aspect of Beatbox Machinery, go back to some of Beatboxes best releases like with the split with Protector 101, you hear some killer synth work paired with Toxic Razor's voice on 'Stitch My Cyborg Heart'. Other tracks immediately come to mind like the robotic voice on 'Disco Warrior' or the enchanting 'Cities Of The Future' featuring Kriistal Ann of Paradox Obscur on vocals. Vocals or no vocals Beatbox Machinery's music is always well done and can easily stand on its own.
It's tough to come up with a perfect point of reference for this particular Beatbox Machinery release. Toxic Razor's influence in the minimal genre may have been spawned by his main project, the minimal wave band Paradox Obscur, that he and Kriistal Ann become when they work together. The vocals remind me a little bit of a less polished Absolute Body Control. The raw vocals on 'N.W.A'. were all done on the first take hence the result was exactly what the artist wanted. Fans of Italodisco, retrosynth, The 80's and metal will find appreciation in the music, art and overall themes to Beatbox Machinery's work. There are several physical releases still available on Werkstatt Recordings Bandcamp page. For the sold out releases, the digital is available. The more you explore Beatbox Machinery's work, the more you appreciate the synth-wizardry of Toxic Razor. Highly Recommended!
Oct 28 2016
Luke Jacobs
info@brutalresonance.comPart time contributor since 2012 with over 150 contributions with reviews, interviews and news articles.
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