A Good Offering
It is, however, catchy and grows on you and worth having and listening to. The style of this album differed greatedly from Raise the Pressure; indeed the loss of Neal Tennant from the group is sorely felt on this album. It surpasses their final CD, Twisted Tenderness. If you liked Raise the Pressure, definitely buy this CD, it's a good addition to your collection.
Decent But Bland Sophomore Effort
New Order's Bernard Sumner provides his fantastically low-key, Joe Everyman lyrics while Smiths' guitarist Johnny Marr does his jangly bit. On paper, its a group made in 80s heaven. The formula looked fool-proof. The band's debut certainly shined with promise. While resembling New Order more than The Smiths, it was loaded with a slew of synth-pop gems. It even had a bit of help from a Pet Shop Boy. But the years piled on, and still no second album. We got "Disappointed" on the Cool World soundtrack, and that totally whetted our appetites.
1996 rolled around, and the band finally released a follow-up to their eponymous first album. So how does Raise the Pressure rate?
Unfortunately, this album pales in comparison to its predecessor. The catchy beats and choruses are, for the most part, gone. The thumping 90s electronic rhythms might be there every once in a while, but they're not as gripping or unique as the one's one the first album. Furthermore, this album goes for a mid-tempo melodic approach that doesn't shine as well as one would hope. Indeed, it creates a listening experience that is pleasant but ultimately ephemeral. Tunes seem catchy, but they're not memorable at all.
This is a clear example of a sophomore slump. The band tried to mess with the formula but only became blander because of it. The music itself is not bad, but it lacks the pizazz of their earlier work. New Order and Electronic die-hards should look into it, though.
Evolution of Electronic
Together, the two are pilars of the Manchester music scene that blossomed in the late 70s and early 80s. For those unfamiliar with the band Electronic, the members are Johnny Marr, former guitarist of the Smiths and Bernard Sumner, vocalist for New Order. This album in particular was produced by Karl Bertos, of Kraftwerk. If you've ever listened to their self-titled previous album, this seems to be the natural progression of their music. Not only do they maintain their dance sound, but utilize more of Johnny Marr's excellent guitar work.
Bernard Sumner is also on point with his Brit-boy vocals often imitated by many other artists, but never duplicated. One of the stand-out tracks is "Dark Angel", which is an up-tempo, lyrically melancholy dance track where you can feel the Kraftwerkian influence of Bertos. "Second Nature" is a solid dance track with a style reminiscent of the Pet Shop Boys, but without all of the theatrics. Meanwhile, "Time Can Tell" is a slower track, with a more romantic feel.
Overall, you've got a solid album which is a prime example of what Brit-pop should be, and what many other artists should aspire to. I highly recommend the album, and also suggest checking out some of their other work.
Perfection - Sans Interlude!
I love this album dearly and cannot decide if the self-titled debut was better or this - it's a toss up really. Anyone who gives this album less than a perfect score of 5 out of 5 sure don't know what they're talking about. But it wouldn't be right for me to choose any of the two when Twisted Tenderness is close to mind-blowing as well. . .
It's a given that every single song on this album is out of this world - except for the interlude: Sure, it isn't a song per se, but it is a waste of 40 seconds in my opinion. Some of the songs that will stick in your head for sure are, "Forbidden City", "Dark Angel", "Second Nature" and "Visit Me".
If you love New Order's Republic, then Electronic is the New Order side project for you. RAISE THE PRESSURE IS A STELLAR ALBUM EVERY SINGLE PERSON SHOULD OWN!.
best of the best
Track "Second Nature" blowing up my head. One of the best album from Electronic! Very melodic and sensible. :-).
You can see a complete list of all Electronic discography, or go back to the Electronic tabs
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