Released
1998
Label
Pendragon Records
Reviewed by
Donald Netolitzy
Visit
Pendragon Records
Last Edit/Update
29 January, 1999
Various Artists
Quadrophobia V.1.
Track Listing
1. Gridlock -- Enzymed
2. Gridlock -- Headache
3. Gridlock -- Sickness
(second disease)
4. Gridlock -- Retina
(reconstructed by Individual Totem)
5. Neutronic -- No Identifier
6. Neutronic -- Megaton
7. Neutronic -- L. P. 1
(reconstructed by Gridlock)
8. Individual Totem -- Flow
(field training exercise)
9. Individual Totem -- Flow
(fortress A mix)
10. Individual Totem -- Flow
(turf olymp-mix)
11. Individual Totem -- Lost Station
12. Velvet Acid Christ -- The Hand
(aggro trash mix)
13. Velvet Acid Christ -- The Hand
(cut throat psycho rave mix)
14. Velvet Acid Christ -- Killing Me
The first in what is presumably to be a
series of analogous compilations, Quadrophobia highlights four of Pendragon's
projects and offers a quite remarkable range of musical styles. Each of the four groups, Gridlock,
Neutronic, Individual Totem, and Velvet Acid
Christ has contributed a number of remixes, and at least one new song, all
previously unreleased. Analogous to the 'O-Files' compilations released by OffBeat,
this CD offers a more in-depth introduction to a variety of Pendragon's
flagship projects. And simply put, an interesting, though occasionally uneven,
musical experience.
The first project, Gridlock, matches dark though by no
means gentle melodies with aggressive beats and distant distorted lyrics. Notable
contributions include the excellent slower-paced "Enzyme", a measured smooth
cool melody meshed with purely synthetic percussive noise, very reminiscent of the style
of the first Gridlock album, The Synthetic Form. The second new
track, "Headache", represents a stylistic departure for Gridlock,
incorporating a significant number of movie dialogue samples. The remaining two
tracks are remixes of material first presented in The Synthetic Form.
Neutronic's style could hardly be more distinct, a
mesh of rhythmic synthesized beats and noise, almost devoid of melody and without vocals,
suggesting a techno variant of Kyoto drums, or perhaps even a Steve Reich
percussion composition. Extremely energetic, the two new songs, "No Identifier"
and "Megaton" are well suited to a dance floor environment. The final
track, "L. P. 1" (remixed by Gridlock), is simply outstanding,
an icy and precise slower paced work in which the underlying melody has undergone
elaboration while retaining the Neutronic's complex rhythms.
Individual Totem, understandably considered one of the
premier German EBM artists, requires little introduction. Three remixes of the track
"Flow", one of the highlights of the excellent album Mind Sculptures Flesh,
have been contributed. Particularly notable is the 'field training exercise' remix,
extended and without the pronounced tempo shift of the original, "Flow" is now
ideally suited for dance purposes, and even more infectious than the original - DJ's take
note! While the 'turf olymp-mix' is, at best, an awkward mix of styles, the new
song, "Lost Station" is archetypal Individual Totem, a strong
base beat driving a smoothly ascending harmony, and strained lyrics; quite suitable for
dance purposes.
The final three tracks were contributed by Velvet Acid Christ,
two remixes of "The Hand" (original version on Calling ov the Dead) and a
new track, "Killing Me." VAC's style of high-paced dance
oriented electro-industrial is well illustrated by the "The Hand" remixes, while
the "Killing Me" adopts a more measured pace, and melodic tone. All these tracks
represent a considerable improvement over the material in the first VAC
album, Church of Acid. One proviso, the thematic and lyrical nature of VAC's
work, focused upon 'dark' topics death, serial killers, blood, knives and such, is
'spooky' rather than in any way menacing. And can be quite annoying, if not juvenile
and pretentious, but viewed as dance music, or simply in a light-hearted manner? A
pleasant, catchy interlude.
Quadrophobia indeed offers diversity, and should
interest those fond of any of the groups included on this CD, as at least one of the new
songs or remixes offers a glimpse of these projects creating at their peak. And to those
unfamiliar with the groups in question, this compilation is an excellent and
representative introduction, a quite reasonable sampler. While certainly not ideal
for consumption in a single session (a matter of musical modes in collision), most
consumers, and DJ's will find at least several, if not many, very appealing songs. A
worthwhile acquisition? Certainly, to anyone who enjoys one or more of the artists
on this compilation, and who knows? You may discover a new obsession as well.
