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Cesium_137
Flight

Metropolis Records

Posted: Tuesday, November 27, 2007
By: Mike Ventarola

For more than a decade, Vince Guzzardo and Isaac Walter Glendening, the brains behind Cesium_137, have been cranking out underground dance club hit after another. Both of these gentlemen have a firm background in classical music study along with production of contemporary electronic music. Vocally, this duo is passable at best on this maxi single. They do, however, shine and excel beyond their contemporaries with the ability to craft tightly knit infectious grooves to accommodate even the most discerning DJ and club patron.

The opening track of Flight is hard hitting and edgy. There can be no denying that the intricacies of the electronics are infectious enough to lure the listener and dancer into another realm. Unfortunately, it is also this first track that emphasizes their vocal limits. Regardless of their weak singing ability, the duo manages to tweak the reverb just enough so that the lyrics are out front just enough to harmoniously coexist with the electronic fare. "Simulacra" redeems our gents as they process the vocals to a pitch perfect mélange that marries the intensity of yet another hard hitting track that should be on the play list of every DJ across the globe by now.

Moves!!! turns up with a remix of the title track. Here, the vocals are overshadowed and processed to a borderline level of white noise in parts. The opening is a dirge of over one minute in length, possibly as a nod to the goth clubs as a means of market expansion. This isn't the most accomplished dirge style electronic track out there but it will suffice as floor filler. Lost Signal turn up the drama at the intro and then thrusts the listener into high gear with pulsing, pounding beats with an underlay of stark pop electronics. The vocals are far more out front here and any limitations were corrected with stronger backing vocals.

"Immateria" is yet another electronic dirge of sorts, which pays homage to the core dark underground fan base. Instead of weaving a heavy hand of morose tones, the band incorporates Middle Eastern percussive elements with electronic sounds that could best be described as "wet." There weren't any vocals on this particular track and sadly, it was far too short. Brainclaw put their mark on a remix and manage to smear the vocals somewhat, which in essence does hide the limitations. The focus and emphasis on this mix was to percolate the beats for the kinetic club floor activity at the height of the night.

Overall, this single will appeal to hardcore fans as well as to fans of the original track. For the rest of us, the shelf life is sadly not present enough. The casual listener would do much better with purchasing their full releases where they truly shine as an electronic force to reckon with.