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REVIEWS
Star #9
Ebriel
What You Give
Judgement Day
Desolate
Gale
Today
Pretty Lisa
Cold Day in Hell
The Place to Be
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REVIEWS
NG-PRO
The Place to Be
Posted: Wednesday, November 12, 2008
By: Trubie Turner
By: Trubie Turner
Dark edged futurepop with some familiar elements, but an overall fresh sound.
Unsigned Dutch electronic act NG-PRO offers a unique take on EBM and futurepop with their second full-length album, The Place to Be. With a much grimmer electro mentality, NG-PRO brings a very dark edge to a genre that is often more uplifting and positive. Though their influences may occasionally be a little obvious, NG-PRO is more than the sum of their parts and rather than simply relying on convention, they give the listener a distinctive and rich sound that belies their noticeable inspiration.
Despite some somewhat sketchy sampling in their opening track, "Star #9," it is an excellent leadoff track featuring an infectious electro styled beat and some nice vocoder work. Making up for this sampling, NG-PRO shows some fantastic use of fire and brimstone preacher sampling in "Judgement Day." This superb dance track relies solely on its sampling for its message and is a gigantic highlight of the album. "Pretty Lisa" is another of the album's vocal-less, sample-heavy tracks and leaves quite the impression despite the sampling getting a touch too repetitive. These two instrumental tracks are not the only bright spots of the album though. "Gale" is a very grim dance track that stands out due to its almost gothic styled vocals that give the track some great attitude. "What You Give" and "Cold Place in Hell," however, are more your standard futurepop fare and break from the album's gloom to go for the typical uplifting sound that, though well executed, feels a tad out of place on the album.
Fans of acts such as VNV Nation or Assemblage 23 are sure to find plenty to enjoy in The Place to Be. It is a solidly produced, well put together, nicely composed, energetic and edgy treat with some tracks that absolutely should not be missed. There are a fair number of songs that don't quite do enough to break away from formula despite NG-PRO's best efforts, but even these are quite fun and do not detract from an otherwise strong showing that should hopefully get this band some much deserved attention.
Despite some somewhat sketchy sampling in their opening track, "Star #9," it is an excellent leadoff track featuring an infectious electro styled beat and some nice vocoder work. Making up for this sampling, NG-PRO shows some fantastic use of fire and brimstone preacher sampling in "Judgement Day." This superb dance track relies solely on its sampling for its message and is a gigantic highlight of the album. "Pretty Lisa" is another of the album's vocal-less, sample-heavy tracks and leaves quite the impression despite the sampling getting a touch too repetitive. These two instrumental tracks are not the only bright spots of the album though. "Gale" is a very grim dance track that stands out due to its almost gothic styled vocals that give the track some great attitude. "What You Give" and "Cold Place in Hell," however, are more your standard futurepop fare and break from the album's gloom to go for the typical uplifting sound that, though well executed, feels a tad out of place on the album.
Fans of acts such as VNV Nation or Assemblage 23 are sure to find plenty to enjoy in The Place to Be. It is a solidly produced, well put together, nicely composed, energetic and edgy treat with some tracks that absolutely should not be missed. There are a fair number of songs that don't quite do enough to break away from formula despite NG-PRO's best efforts, but even these are quite fun and do not detract from an otherwise strong showing that should hopefully get this band some much deserved attention.
