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Accessory
Forever and Beyond

Metropolis Records

Posted: Wednesday, March 29, 2006
By: Vince Sander

Accessory is a band that has been around for nearly a decade but many Americans are likely unfamiliar with the name. On Forever and Beyond, the follow-up to 2003’s Titan, we find the band stripped down to just Dirk Steyer; Ivo Lottig gets credit, but is really there for management purposes more so than any musical contribution. Over the years, Dirk has written traditional EBM that fit well on the floor. The output has been decent enough to place Accessory squarely among Germany’s 2nd tier of electro outfits alongside the likes of Terminal Choice. The curiosity this time around will be to see whether we get something new or more of the same.

Right off the bat, you’ll notice that the production has improved over previous releases, yielding a more potent sound. Tracks like ”The Faint,” “Bad Conditions,” “Mastermind,” and “Midnight Fire” follow the “new EBM” template as set forth by Icon of Coil; hard but simple beats, sharp hooks that cut through the mix, lyrics of little substance that won’t get in the way of your sweaty workout, with just a light touch of futurepop atmosphere added in to simulate depth. Dirk likes to use movie samples in the traditional industrial method; I’m certain that those in “The Faint” come from one of the Robocop movies. “They Come” is a dance floor stomp that has about as heavy a Front 242 vibe as you can create. The incessant beat and racing synths would have fit perfectly on Tyranny >For You<. “Never” and “One Night” provide lots of pace but also toss out some of the worst lyrics you’ll hear this year; I’ll spare you the details. While nearly every song sounds very good, the music rarely escapes long-established genre trappings. By the time “Unfinished” rolls around, be thankful for its subdued feel and different approach to beat structure. It’s a welcome change of pace and possibly my choice as the album’s best, though it likely wouldn’t be a selection for a single or the DJ booth. No, the DJs will head straight for the final track “Obsession,” which is the most turbocharged slab of techno presented. If this release is anything, it is consistent. The BPM are cranked up high, the electronics are linear and catchy, the vocal style doesn’t vary much, and the arrangements are somewhat standard issue.

Clearly, this is the most complete and best produced work that Accessory has done to date. There is no genre bending as this is straightforward EBM. The reference points are also transparent as even a layman could point out linkages to genre pioneers like Front 242 and Front Line Assembly, as well as newer groups like the aforementioned IoC. However, that isn’t to say that this is stale or not worthwhile. On the contrary, this is a solid album for getting pumped up; it just won’t challenge your mind all that much. Forever and Beyond offers fast, aggressive dance floor material that doesn’t try to hide what it is. Lace ‘em up and get out on the floor! Boots are mandatory but your thinking cap is optional.