Released
1997
Label
Opción Sónica
Reviewed by
Kim Alexander
E-mail
Artefakto
Artefakto Homepage
Artefakto
Opción Sónica
S.A. de C.V.
Tamaulipas 125-23,
Col. Condesa,
06140 Mexico D.F.
Tel: (52-5) 523-0641
(52-5) 543-1228
Fax: (52-5) 286 42 72
Email
OPCIÓN SÓNICA
Last Edit/Update
13 March, 1999
ARTEFAKTO
Interruptor
Track Listing
1. Overcome
2. Sumisión
3. Codes
4. Transmute
5. Swichter
6. Poder
7. Shut Down
8. Solar
9. Narcolepsia *
* Remixed by Modula 3
Artefakto
is made up of three people, I assume males, by the names of: Pepe Mogt (synths
and samplers), Melo Ruiz (guitars and synths), and Roberto Mendoza
(vocals). Guests using guitar on this release include Pars H. Evenos on Overcome,
and Héctor Rodriguez on Sumisión. The band is out of Mexico, near
Tijuana. All tracks were composed and produced by Artefaktor.
The overall sound on this release is of a very high quality electronic based music
with some guitar added. There are hints of Kraftwerkian style as in
Poder with sounds of feedback, clicks and great basslines (an excellent track by
the way...), KMFDM-ish and Front 242-esque beat, vocals
and deliciously sweet melody lines in a good majority of the tracks, yet there is a large
amount of unique style blended throughout each track. Vocals on Interruptor
are quite well perfomed, slightly treated, strong yet not annoying, often in Spanish, and
surprisingly pleasant in terms of the sync, technical quality and flow with the
general structure of each piece of work.
Diversity is another positive factor with Interruptor in that there is
dancey music here (EBM), fused with various peripherals of guitar, excellent drum
programming/percussion and drifting beat, sampled effects, incredibly mesmerizing loops
and melody as in Transmute. Tracks tend to be diverse within themselves as
well such as in Swichter, which reveals a beautiful melodic synthdrop that is
lightly based in jazz and EBM-ish styles of dance music. Shutdown is a bit of
a darker track, exquisitely orchestrated with highs and lows in tempo, again, melodic yet
contains a rich guitar sound filling in the rhythm. Narcolepsia is really
interesting. Drums are very very very cool, deep, reverb in all the right places on
tomtom, and a winding synth of varied timbre. This track will send the techno noodle
percussion heads into a spin! It is in the vein of pure electro-techno, and very
tasty.
The music of Artefakto is fluid, well composed with
excellent programming and rates one of the best bands I have heard in the
"post-industrial" scene in quite a long time. My CD player never tires of
the music presented on this release. It's definitely worth the time to investigate Artefakto
and give them serious attention. Don't miss them! You can read another review
about Artefaktor at Sonic Boom. What a great
band!
