Android Lust - The Dividing -- Dark Vision Media

I’m a huge supporter of women in music, and take every chance I can to promote women in music, and even get out there myself and try to be a part of the music (my contribution being DJing). This said, Shikhee rocks my world. A solo female artist in the, yes, male dominated land of Industrial music, producing the quality of work that she does, can be nothing but great.

The new CD, “The Dividing”, the follow-up to the single “The Want, I find a bit hard to classify. But I suppose the Industrial umbrella will do. Although, it is nothing like its fellow releases in the Industrial genre. In fact, I would say, it is what Industrial should be. None of this half-assed bouncy synthpop. Industrial demands dark, harsh, melancholic music, and Android Lust delivers just that, fantastically.

This album – an angry, bitter, emotional, unique ride with shrill agonizingly tender violent expressions – holds complex layering and distortion mixed craftily within screaming vocals and then quiet whispers. Shikhee can sing (vocal and musical ability are obvious), and this adds to the music wonderfully, as so many Industrial artists try to hide their lack of singing talent with noise and distortion. But the vocals here are on key and kept appropriate to each track, taking on subjects of personal and social commentary. The additional instruments of viola and flute make a beautiful extra to the music, and are used masterfully to create a mood that never strays from the goal of conveying pain.

Tracks such as “Kingdom of One”, “Panic Wrought”, and “The Want” have some aggressive beats, while tracks like “Distortion”, “Sex and Mutilation” and “Burn” give us more atmospheric haunting melodies. The album is not as danced floor oriented as previous albums, but any track would be a welcome addition to the club set list to break up the monotony of one synthpop hit after another. Aren’t we all sick of musicians just making albums to have club hits anyway?

The CD is enhanced, offering photographs and lyrics in a flash applet. A great addition, especially since I was really missing reading lyrics, until I popped the CD in my computer and found them!

Everyone, who is a “fan” of Industrial, should own this album. It will not displease, as this album has earned a place in the halls of great Industrial music.

-- January 2003

 

Return to Reviews Page