From: ogd@selway.umt.edu (ozymandias G desiderata)
Subject: REVIEW: Jyradelix - "Invincible"
Followup-To: alt.rave
Summary: There's a time for everything...
Keywords: American Christian techno
Organization: University of Montana
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 09:23:42 GMT

Myx Records: Jyradelix - "Invincible" CD
No. Title				Length	BPM
1.  Invincible				5:22	140
2.  Out For Love			4:16	135
3.  Four 29-92				0:26	---
4.  Feeling Is Believing		4:23	140
5.  Friday (Bio-Mix)			4:38	137
6.  Lizard				0:36	---
7.  Mysteria (Babylon Mix)		5:18	129
8.  Repercussions			0:46	---
9.  Take My Life			4:36	136
10. Psycho-Lizards (Sane Mix)		5:31	137
11. They Are Beautiful (Gem Version)	1:08	---
12. Invincible (Lift Mix)		6:06	137
13. Ol' McRave				5:56	136
			TOTAL LENGTH:  49:51

(Note: Unlike Pete and the other reviewers in the group, I have no
idea how danceable a given track is. So I merely put the BPM down,
which should give you a rough idea what's going on.)

	A few oddities about this disc:
		1) It only cost me ten bucks at the local Ha$ting$,
which is a major miracle, considering that their usual prices are
around fifteen or sixteen dollars. They want twenty-six dollars for an
import copy of U.F.Orb!
		2) This is, to my knowledge, the first production by
an avowedly Christian techno group, which is a unique spin on the
whole scene. At least they're not fundies.
		3) Yes, this disc sports yet another novelty tune,
"Ol' McRave...". It's not nearly as vomitrocious as "Sesame's Treet",
but I can see it getting old fast. Oddly, despite the fact that the
group is (appears to be) from LA, the sampled vocals saying "Old
MacDonald had a rave, etc." sound Australian. I just work here, man.

	Now, about the music. It's good, and I would say that it can't
really be classified. It's energetic, the production is excellent, the
bass booms well, and the samples gain a lot from the fact that they're
not your garden variety (i.e. they all have a positive, Christian
slant to them).
	"Take My Life" does, IMHO, what "O Fortuna" tried to do, and
nearly succeeded in doing. It welds an apocalyptic, choral (via
sampler via Fairlight) sound to a strong techno backbeat. The vocals
(another heretical notion) are compressed and fuzzed, and sound
reminiscent of recent NIN work. The whole song has a pleasantly retro,
Sisters of Mercy sound to it while still being completely modern.
	The "Lift Mix" of "Invincible" uses a nicely done, heavy
guitar line, which sounds like it was actually written for the song,
instead of being stolen. It works well. Actually, for all of you
r.m.i. cross-readers, it sounds quite a bit like a more techno version
of Malhavoc, what with the distorted vocals, keyboards, samples and
guitar.
	"Out For Love", "Friday", and "Mysteria" are also solid
tracks. In fact, there's not a weak track on here. It's pretty
consistently kickin'. In fact, the whole thing sounds pretty fresh and
interesting. I'm amazed I've never heard any of this (except "Ol'
McRave") before. Your mileage, of course, may vary, but I'm always
amazed when I can find a techno group (besides the Orb, of course) who
can fill a whole album with good material.
	The little bits between some of the songs provide a reminder
that there's a real world out there, in that they include samples from
people in the LA area talking about the riots after the Rodney King
verdict both before and after they happened.
	The Christianity bit appears to be more than a gimmick, and
would really bother me (as an avowed pagan atheist) if it weren't so
tastefully handled. I don't know, the way it's handled here seems to
dovetail nicely with the whole rave "ethic" of togetherness and unity.
No cheezy moralistic messages, just spiritual and uplifting bits. Of
course, I'm sure it sounds like I'm talking out my ass here, but this
CD put me in a really good mood while I was walking back listening to
it during a uniformly grey, foggy day.
	Overall, this is a very well put together package, and I'm
glad I took the chance to buy it. I'm just amazed that nobody's
mentioned this yet. Anybody else even heard of these freaks? Anyway, I
recommend it. Sorry this review is so long.

yer pal,
ozymandias G desiderata
----
		"Give me your hand and I'll tell you your future,
		 give me your wallet and I'll tell you your past."
			- Mudwimin, "Oom Pa Pa"
(ogd@selway.umt.edu)
-- 
----
		"Give me your hand and I'll tell you your future,
		 give me your wallet and I'll tell you your past."
			- Mudwimin, "Oom Pa Pa"