In case you’ve never read this column before, and you don’t know how I feel about various artists compilations, let me tell you. I hate them. They are often slapdash efforts tossed together for the sole purpose of making money from some musical fad. Dance music compilations are at the top of my list, especially those compiled by DJs. If I wasn’t dancing in your club, then I probably don’t care what you were spinning on any given night. Electro Kills: This Is Just A Fad (Nettwerk America) is an exception. For the average listener, the new-wave inspired electroclash scene is still something of an enigma. This compilation features such listener friendly tracks as ‘He Not In’ by Chicken Lips, ‘Strange Sounds’ by Valentino Tomasi, ‘Bleep Freak’ by FC Kahuna.
‘The 15th’ by commercially promising group Fischerspooner, and ‘Turn It On’ by critics darlings Ladytron. Even slightly more exotic or hardcore acts such as Lolita Strap (‘Product’), Black Strobe (‘Me & Madonna’) or Felix Da Housecat (‘Silver Screen’) sound safe for the mainstream on this collection. The jumpsuit that the model is wearing on the cover is a fad, electroclash sounds like it’s going to be around for a while.
Electro Bop (Delvian) by man-of-many-monikers The G-Man is a collection of fifteen electro-lite originals. With a beat per minute range of 90 (‘Doom & Lollipops’) to 300 (the Ministry-like ‘Brainbump’), most of the songs were in the 100 to 120 BPM range and allowed for pleasant head bopping and toe-tapping without working up a sweat. The most ‘electro’ tunes, ‘Paranormal Radio’ and ‘GoBabyGoBaby,’ would sound good on any electro compilation or at an electro night at your favorite dance club. Listener beware, the song ‘C**t Is In The Dictionary’ is sure to ruffle more than a few feathers. With the lines, ‘For behavior quite contrary/c**t is in the dictionary/with a picture of you,’ this ‘nicest-sounding angry song’ calls for an advisory warning.