Microbody - Random Victims

Microbody is a project born in Sweden in 2002, by Andreas F. (machines) and Peter H. (vocals). Peter also has a side-project called Schism Trace. The project states that it is influenced by different kinds of sounds, but that old school EBM is the predominant one. This is a 4-track EP, downloadable only release, available from iTunes and Amazon.

Our opener "Lights out for our leaders" has a dark electro sound, but leaning more towards electro-industrial and EBM than the more techno driven genres. It's synth driven, has good rasping vocals, minimal and clean, and with a good beat that even make it a dance floor possible. In a very dark place like a crypt this will go down a treat, it could be the 2012 replacement for the 'Monster Mash'.

"MILF (Or maybe don't)" is an excellent creepy ballad like track, it's very suitably abnormal as are the vocals. This track as the first may not seem to have the tempo for dance floor fillers, but after hearing them it doesn't take much imagination as to how they so easily become so. Now we just need a 'Lily Munster' lookalike to take up the task and lead the way. The most striking thing about this track is the piano which sounds like it has been bereaved. Unusual and just great.

In "Disclosure" we return to the early dark electro sound, again sythn driven with more of the same creepy horror like vocals. Really makes you think like a vampire like creature is singing. This is also layered well, there are some good background synth lines too which add to the effect.

We close with "Hard Reward", which has a really nice synth and drums beat leading those vamp vocals through the track. Again could be used as a dance track, although another unusual one. The background melody when used is once again to good effect.

Conclusion
So only 4 tracks, but 4 good ones, predominantly I would call it dark electro, so if that's what you like I recommend it to you. But I must add that the influences of old-school EBM are very noticeable and this works very well. Some might think that it's a little short, personally I think it was the clever option as 4 tracks like this is entertaining a whole album may well be too much. The outstanding track is "MILF (Or maybe don't)", its piano and vocal combination, and slow beat make for a bizarre experience.
Sep 24 2012