REVIEWS

FGFC820
Urban Audio Warfare

NoiTekk Records / COP International / RazorBurn Records

Posted: Tuesday, November 21, 2006
By: Ilker Yücel
Editor

After unveiling his Brüderschaft project in 2003, New York DJ Rexx Arkana began work with fellow DJ Dräcos on a project promising to focus solely on a straightforward EBM attack of simplistic synthesizers, throbbing bass lines, and militaristic beats. Their debut EP, The Hanging Garden made good on that promise, owing to the old-school style of EBM in the vein of Nitzer Ebb and early Front 242, while still holding enough modern production edge to stand up to today's stars. Now, FGFC820 unveils their first full-length release, Urban Audio Warfare, an album that lives up to its name.

From the choral/orchestral opening of "Intro March," we are plunged straight into a full on EBM assault of pounding percussion and sparse synthesizers and samples. Every track on Urban Audio Warfare could easily find its way onto today's club dance floors, full of energy and aggression that will surely satiate rivetheads and goth kids to get their feet stomping away. Throw in some nice bits of classical music to give the songs an epic quality, like the slight operatic chorus on "Children of Decay" or the underlying strings riff on "Martyrdom," or even the piano loop on "Perfect War," giving that track an even greater sense of despair. The film and dialogue samples, while abundant, hardly intrude on the listener's ear drums, adding more texture to what is ultimately some pure unabashed EBM. It's easy to compare FGFC820 to Nitzer Ebb or even D.A.F.; just listen to the repetitive yet catchy bass lines of "World of God" or "Victim" for proof. Even in the midst of such an approach are moments of sonic experimentation, like the pulsating effects found in the three "Resolution" tracks, continuing the series that began on The Hanging Garden. "Comatose" is also a notable track with its subtle layers of harmonic synth lines, as is "Existence," arguably the hardest hitting track on the album, and a surefire pleaser for the modern industrial crowd. Another interesting aspect to this band's sound is the vocals. At first listen, one might mistake them for standard distortion-laced terror EBM vocals feigning rage and angst through technology rather than actual passion. However, it is important to note that upon closer inspection, the effects are different for each track, offering alternate facets to Arkana's delivery and message. Some might think the lyrics cliché, but given the tumultuous state of current world affairs, tracks like "Society" and "GBA" are all the more engaging and relevant.

It could be argued that FGFC820's approach is part and parcel of a scene more willing to employ tried and true formulas than to take chances and experiment with the medium. This would be understating the inherent qualities that made EBM so appealing in the first place, and FGFC820 exemplify these qualities wonderfully. That is not to say that Urban Audio Warfare is the best EBM album to be released since Nitzer Ebb's That Total Age, but in the spirit of that classic album, FGFC820 are pushing the envelope in ways that stay true to the original form and function of EBM.