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Cesium_137
Intelligent Design

Metropolis Records

Posted: Friday, October 13, 2006
By: Lola S. Batling
Writer and Hypnotist

Music is meant to grow and change. Electronic music is no exception; it evolves faster and sometimes takes a wrong turn. Cesium_137 brings us their latest experiment in the blending of musical styles with their fourth album, Intelligent Design, an album which can be described as trance meets synthpop. A good concept though the execution falls somewhat flat. In trying to be avant-garde, they wind up losing the audience. Often, it seems like an emulation of VNV Nation set to early '90s club instrumental tracks. It just doesn't match up, and oftentimes you can find yourself thinking that if the lyrics weren't here, this would be great. It's hard to get into the sad songs when the music is so rave-inducing. Computer-made sounds dominate the songs, leaving them one-dimensional and cold. Perhaps they miss their Nintendo after a long love affair. Intelligent Design does, however, have a few saving graces. "Eastern Sky" has bitter and beautiful lyrics that are not easily drowned out by the happy melody. "Ghosting" is one of the few songs whose lyrics match the music. The female vocals help to give it a slightly ethereal quality. "Hollow" features what sounds like a computer generated choir; if you like that sort of thing, then you'll get your fix, and the lyrics aren't bad when you can actually understand them. If you like trance, or EBM, or Cesium_137, then you'll want to pick this up. If not, steer clear; you'll only be disappointed.