Released
1994

Label
Discordia

Reviewed by
Kim Alexander

Visit

[Ladd-Frith]

Last Edit/Update
13 October, 1999

PSY 231

Industrial Hits For Greatest Youth

Track Listing

1. Ecstasy On Rye
2. Rockin' Rollin Rhythms
3. Ich Bin Ein Berliner
4. Childish Beginnings
5. Par Avion
6. Soulove
7. The 4th Reich
8.Clairvoyant
9. Long Ago
10. Rock Till We Shock!
11. Jigsaw Puzzles
12. Hardcore Soundtrack
13. Super Heavy Duty
14. Race Unwanted
15. Duo Drones
16. American Sandwich
17. Extra Bonus Hit!

    In the fine tradition of The Psyclones, Julie Frith and Brian Ladd (California), together with Pierre Jolivet of Pacific 231 (France), Industrial Hits For Greatest Youth, is blend of avant-garde collaborative efforts which has created the project known as PSY 231.
    This project is very interesting in terms of compositions, offbeat electronic music, some industrial sounds, great percussion, strange effects of clicks and slaps of metal to name just a couple, and a couple tracks that are just downright whimsical in general in terms of synth elements or lyrics, but they have a serious air to the background music, [Ecstasy On Rye, Rockin' Rollin' Rhythms, Jigsaw Puzzles, Rock Till We Shock!, Soulove (oh yeah... get down... oh yeah, get down, get funky...get down, throw up.)]
    Not an easy release to describe, PSY 231 has a rather eclectic disposition, whirring textures, dark growls, harmonic/noisy synthscapes, militant beats, lyrics in German and English, and sampling of neo-classical melody, and doses of noise -- it all comes together quite perfectly in each composition.
    All of the individual tracks are distinct in their own music, some have vocals, some have no lyrics [Duo Drones], or just a droning mantric-like vocals with noise, percussion and melody, [American Sandwich, 11+mins in length]. A few tracks are definitely more in the militant/jungle in beat, rhythm and tempo end of things, [Ich Bin Ein Berliner, The 4th Reich (sirens blasting in the background as if a bomb raid was going on, bombs hitting and a German man speaking in the background), Childish Beginings, and the Extra Bonus Hit! <---excellent track.] Some have outspoken lyrics [Race Unwanted], while a few are more reserved in those areas, but are unique in their own blends of experimental work [Par Avion, Clairvoyant (again more militant, neo-classical elements/horns, melody) and Long Ago.]
    Overall, this release is top quality work in every aspect of the music, lyrics, composition, production and creativity. If you haven't heard this one yet, get it soon. The CD cover is covered in silver metallic finish, beautiful. Thanks to Ladd-Frith for sending this release. It's incredibly good.