Published by Davide Pappalardo on April 14, 2019
Rhys Fulber and Blush Response (Joey Gonzalez), two names encapsulating the past, present and future of industrial music with electronic leanings. The first one is an old-school veteran with a long career, a core member of Front Line Assembly, and the producer of different takes on the genre under names like Synaesthesia, Will, Noise Unit, Delerium, and more. The second one is one of the strongest and most successful members of the new era of techno industrial music with EBM elements, an artist with a modus operandi characterized by an ever evolving style with strong and obsessive rhythmic patterns and modular synth sounds.
It was only a matter of time before the two of them collaborated to a common project – the Sonic Groove‘s EP Corruption Of Form, a 4-track vinyl and digital release. Here we find a perfect communion of sounds and aesthetics, Blush Response’s unforgiving rhythmic attacks and throbbing synths meet Fulber’s apocalyptic soundscapes and layered movements enriched by samples. The result is more than the sum of its parts, a majestic effort with strong industrial sounds and infective dark techno stompers.
The title track is a groovy affair with throbbing basslines and destructive kick drums, a militant number with strong EBM elements and subtle aggressive vocal elements. The hypnotizing attack is underlined by grim soundscapes evoking dark scenarios, while the rhythmic pattern conquers our undivided attention. Dissipate is a dark techno episode with obsessive beats and snare drums, characterized by acid atmospheres and downtempo structures – before it evolves into an industrial stomper with the usual samples and evocative elements. The final part surprises us thanks to a more melodic direction recalling Fulber’s love for cinematic solutions.
Federal republic employs grinding sounds with noisy qualities, a rhythmic obsession with full-front drums and droning rituals. The songwriting plays with the slow addition of different elements, even using broken samples and glitchy effects with IDM tracts – but the dark atmosphere typical of the EP is not forgotten. Threat perception ends the work with its straight drum sounds and acid elements, giving us eerie arpeggios and menacing underlines too. Then, a caustic explosion orchestrate a chaotic techno industrial crescendo with riffing structures – and the two peaces are alternated between themselves to a great effect.
A match made in heaven, Blush Response and Rhys Fulber create a thundering and seductive effort dwelling into many facets of what is called techno industrial today. A perfect sound design is supported by a precise songwriting where hard drums and eerie soundscapes underlines dystopian synth sounds. The resulting is something that wouldn’t be inappropriate in a dark sci-fi movie, as well as in a dancefloor full of ravers and rivetheads. A great EP, and we really hope in some further collaboration, maybe even in F.L.A themselves – a man can dream.
Label: Sonic Groove
Rating: 9