Problems With Radiation

Review of Problems With Radiation

     

If Kraftwerk were to make a modern day follow up to there mid 70's electronic offering "Radio Activity" then the new album by The Infinity Room may well be what it might sound like. The Infinity Room is a sideline project of Jez Shearing (N.S.J) and Chris Bicknell (Bik) and their new album is called "Problems With Radiation" and here is my review of the album. The album opens with the industrial sounding "Alpha Beta Gamma", it's an atmospheric track with some wonderful hard edged synth sounds with the occasional little melody over the top which I really felt made the track. "Sub Atomic Particles" has some clever voice samples over some neat rhythm sections and sequenced parts, again the track has industrial overtones. There is another nice melody line that fits the track perfectly and I do like the simplistic chord sections of the song.. The track definitely has a heavy Kraftwerk influence throughout it along with hints of early Human League. The 3rd track is called "PU-239" and starts off with some excellent sequencer sections and some nice chunky synth elements that drive the track, I do like the sounds in this track with clever use of morse code sounds and ship radar beeps! It works trust me! "Familiar Kinds Of Radiation" the albums 4th track starts off really well with superb rhythm elements with intricate sequence parts and again great use of voice samples about radiation etc. Listening to the voice overs reminded me of the days I use to listen to short wave radio. It's quite a gentle track this one with some nice pad sounds and melody lines, my favourite track so far. "Half Life" has a very good "percussion" type rhythm to lead us in to the track before the Kraftwerk elements begin to kick in, phased rhythms with a great bass/lead sound, certainly like that. Nice Chord elements in the track and I love the way the bass/lead changes as well, beautiful melody lines on the track, when the track started I was n't sure I was going to like it but it evolves in to a brilliant song. Without doubt the "Hall Of Mirrors" type synth sound makes this track. This again has vocal samples which work well. The start of "The Physics Of Heavy Water" (What a fantastic title) reminded me of the darker side of Depeche Mode. The synths certainly have an early Human League feel to them amd the melody line is just fantastic, draws you in to the song, brilliant. Listening to this almost makes me grab the League's "Travelogue" album, very impressive track. Ok next is the title track "Problems With Radiation". Again Kraftwerk springs to mind on this one, simplistic intro which leads in to a Depeche Mode like melody and backdrop, loving this track, love the drums used and the synths, a nice structure to this track. An interesting "Radiation story is recited over the music, to me this is the most commercial track of the album so far. "April 26th" has a very eirie and haunting beginning and has an early Human League feel to it, the synths are excellent, I ilke the way the pace of the track changes around the 1 min 40 secs mark, almost bordering on electro dance before the track drops back to a slow pace before picking up again and ending pretty much how the track started. Another excellent track which I loved to bits! "Everything Is Under Control" has a moody opening and mid paced rhythm section, loved the pad/string elements on this one they suit the feel of the track perfectly, the track has vocal samples and has a bit of an industrial feel to it. The 10th track on the album is called "First Responders" which has a beautiful soft string opening and a "Jean Michel Jarre" laser arp sound over the top, some neat percussion and rhythm elements. Around the 1 min 50 secs mark this song comes in to its own with a brilliant melody section, the more of the track you hear the more you are drawn to Jean Michel Jarre. I really do like this track. The feel of it is excellent with some fantastic synths sounds on the track, another big favourite of mine. "Evacuation" starts of with vocal samples of children and nice pads, has a heavier feel to this track which works well with the sounds on the track, I do think the pads/strings are very impressive in this track and I was n't expecting the piano section at all but works beautifully with the composition, the track builds really well, it was another track I was n't sure about on first listen but it really does grow on you, great track. The album close with the track "The Red Forest" which opens with a nice nature sound effect (Absynth 5 maybe??) which then has a fantastic pad section (think John Foxx The Garden and you won't be far out) oh yes this is outstanding! A nice simple melodic part with piano's over the top of the pad/string section. This is truly a magnificent piece of music, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. What a way to end the album this is just brilliant, easily the best track on the album. I was not expecting to hear this type of track on the album at all but it ends the whole project perfectly. If they were to put out a track to market the album this would be the one to go for..... amazing!!! This is a very clever album, at times it borders on experimental yet to me has a commercial appeal to it. It's obvious a lot of hard work and thought has gone in to this album and the theme of the album is spot on for me, they should be applauded for producing such an unusual album. They have written a true gem in the song "The Red Forest"!! An absolute pleasure to listen to and review 9/10 Gary Hunter