Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Strategy - Future Rock [Kranky - 2007]

Future Rock, at least to my ears, is not an album that looks forward. The music is a melange of old school dance music of varying styles. Mostly, it has a mellow vibe, with dubby echo production and whispered vocals. It has a hazy quality, which gives it uniformity, even as the pace changes. " />
The first track of Future Rock, Can't Roll Back, is seemingly an ironic statement. The lyrics repeat the line "Can't roll forward looking over your shoulder", yet Future Rock, at least to my ears, is not an album that looks forward. The music is a melange of old school dance music of varying styles. Mostly, it has a mellow vibe, with dubby echo production and whispered vocals. It has a hazy quality, which gives it uniformity, even as the pace changes.

There are occassional instrumental overdubs in the form of percussion, bass, guest vocals and guitar, but for the most part Future Rock sounds purely electronic. There are tape loop treatments on Sunfall (Interlude) credited to three different people, making for a nice interlude living up to it's sub-title.

Future Rock is undeniably a carefully wrought work, making for pleasant enough listening. And the fact that it's subtle isn't a problem either. It's got some interesting elements, most notably some keyboard work which sounds inspired by Miles Davis-era Herbie Hancock, especially noticeable on Can't Roll Back, but making re-appearances throughout the album.

The album's production, while interesting, is like a gauze over the whole of Future Rock which tends to make the material appear samey. And although the music doesn't stick to one style, the tempos and feel are similar, which makes listening to it from front to back a bit of a chore.       

Rating: 2 out of 5Rating: 2 out of 5Rating: 2 out of 5Rating: 2 out of 5Rating: 2 out of 5

Erwin Michelfelder
Latest Reviews

Strategy - Future Rock
The first track of Future Rock, Can't Roll Back, is seemingly an ironic statement. The lyrics repeat the line "Can't roll forward looking over your shoulder"...
190424   Zachary James Watkins - Affir...
180424   Ulvtharm - 7 Uthras
180424   The Bad Shepherd - The Bad Sh...
180424   Impulse - Impulse( Blu Ray)
170424   Jan Jelinek - Social Engine...
170424   Carlos “Zíngaro”, Guilherme R...
160424   The Borderlands - The Borderl...
160424   Rien - The New Source Recording
160424   Worship - Thoughts
150424   Lion-Girl - Lion-Girl(Blu Ray)
Latest Articles

The Music of Clay Ruby & Burial H...
Over the last couple of decades Wisconsin native, Clay Ruby has been creating some of the world’s finest dark electronic music under the Burial Hex mon...
280324   The Music of Clay Ruby & Buri...
290224   Sutcliffe No More - Normal Ev...
100124   Occlusion - The Operation Is...
181223   Best Of 2023 - Music, Sound &...
051223   Powerhouse Films - Of Magic, ...
181023   IO - Of Sound, Of Art, Of Exp...
210923   Lucky Cerruti - Of Not so Fri...
290823   The Residents - The Trouble W...
110723   Yotzeret Sheydim Interview - ...
250523   TenHornedBeast - Into The Dee...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2023. Twenty two years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom