Released
1999

Labels
Dependent Records
Metropolis Records

Reviewed by
Kim Alexander

Visit

Visit
Electric Deathtrip
Records

Contact
DEPENDENT
Division of Mindbase
Postfach 200631
45841 Gelsenkirchen
Germany
E-Mail mindbase (at) t-online.de

Last Edit/Update
30 June, 1999

Click the VAC logo to read the interview with Bryan Erickson

Fun With Knives

Track Listing

1. Decypher
2. The Dark Inside Me
3. There Is No God
4. Icon
5. Fun With Drugs
6. Speedball O.D.
7. Psycho
8. Slut
9. Apflux
10. Fun With Knives
11. Caught
66. Bonus track -- Futile

     Not having ever heard VAC with the exception of one track off a Culture Shock Magazine CD compilation [the zine is now extinct], which gives me no base from which to compare, all I can do basically here is try to describe for you the sounds I hear.  From what people are saying about Fun With Knives who have followed VAC from it's beginnings, it's "quite different from previous releases."  This new release includes vocals by Josh Wilson, and help from Lisa Wilson, but for the most part, VAC is a solo project: Bryan Erickson. Luxt has also made some contributions to this CD in terms of vocals [Anna Christine], and lyrics [Erie] on "Slut," which is quite melodic, and Delerium-esque with a good dose of synth programming.  Luxt just came off of a rather lengthy US tour. To read more about them, go to www.luxt.com.
    I won't be sympathetic to VAC just because Bryan thanked me on the release notes, nor because I consider him to be a friend. I will say however that I am a lover of Industrial/EBM, of which I believe this release falls under, yet it has elements of other non-industrial/EBM sounds as well, like trance (Jason says so), and some bits of harsh noise. The tracks are laden with samples from movies, thrusting dance beats, melodic undertones, sparky synth treatments, and an overall theme, "Fun With Knives"," and drugs. The release is as feisty as is Bryan!
    The heaviest track in terms of beat (tempo), harshness and progression is "Speedball OD." (Sample: "The cause of death was eh, heroin overdose.")  The CD title is quite suggestive of what the music delivers -- a powerful aural discourse in danger, threats, death, killing, violence and chaos. "Fun With Knives" is promising in keeping my attention and creating a sense of immediacy in listening on a regular basis.