Released
1993
Label
Perimeter
Sound Arts
Reviewed by
Kim Alexander
Read Our
Interview
with
Adrian Alexis
Visit
the January
Feature Article
Visit
Adrian Alexis Web Site
Last Edit/Update
26 January, 1999
Adrian Alexis
Random Cuts
Track Listing
1. So This Is Death
2. Tetragrammation
3. DarkMother Scream
4. I Feel Fine
5. I Want To Be A Vampire
6. The Awakening
7. Artifice of Eternity
8. Away Beyond
9. As Darkness is your Shelter
10. As Darkness is my Shelter
11. I'm Pain
12. It's Hot Tonight
13. My Death
14. Whoever Said Tomorrows Dead
15. Devil's Device
16. Misplaced Messiah
Random
Cuts are the works of Adrian Alexis from his touring days in the early 1990s.
Withstanding time, these works reflect Adrian's talents in his ability for
composition, sound machine manipulation, and in having an accomplished voice and lyrical
writing. However "gothic" the titles come off as, a good deal of the CD
is tasty electronic utilizing excellent percussion techniques, melody and incredible
vocals. At times, Adrian sounds quite a bit like David Bowie,
especially in "Tetragrammaton", which adds to the flavour of the release.
Over all, Adrian has an incredible luring voice that seems to capture my attention
and hold it.
In terms of style, Random Cuts is dynamic in itself. The first track
that comes to mind here is the parody on vampirism, "I Want to Be a
Vampire". A young lad starts the track with his mini bloodlust dissertation
while in class about his wanting to grow up and "become a vampire" as his
teacher loses his patience in the background with the little boys "Ambition".
This track is very smooth, melodic yet unsettling, and describes the life of a modern
vampire wannabee and the obstacles in being one.
Most of the CD is actually quite beautiful in synth work and percussion
with a healthy dose of electro-goth-eroticism and spoken word/annectdote which is
uplifting yet mysterious and eerie, forcing the listener to escape into it. "The
Awakening", "I Feel Fine", "So This is Death", "Misplaced
Messiah". "Away Beyond", "Artifice of Eternity" are more on
the gothic end of the electronic fence with buzzing guitar, sampling and melody.
"As Darkness is your (my) Shelter" has a pretty good dance beat,
and swirling synthscapes with Adrian singing in this emotional piece "...As
darkness is your shelter, you shall not want", which leads into the flipside track
"As Darkness is my Shelter", ..."I shall not want", an eerie, sample-
laden atmospheric piece.
"I'm Pain", "It's Hot Tonight" and "Devil's
Device" are more upbeat tracks with guitar, drums and synth, while "My
Death" paints a story in my mind about contemplations with my time being finished
here on earth "and the passing time".
Music like this never grows old, it's timeless and always in fashion on
the electro-goth dance scene. Adrian obviously has a wealth of experience to work
with in terms of quality, creativity and volume of his compositions which can be heard on Random
Cuts.
