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Non-Prog CD Reviews

Les Techno

Flowers for Dystopia

Review by Gary Hill

Let Techno is artist who is always hard to categorize. He seems to take parts of various musical styles and merge them all into something that's both unique and captivating. I've reviewed quite a bit of his music in the past, and this is his new album. In fact, I've covered several of these tunes as singles. I'm quoting from those reviews here in the track reviews for the sake of consistency.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2020  Volume 5. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2020.

Track by Track Review
Flowers for Dystopia (Objects)
I previously reviewed the single version of this. Here's what I said about it, "There is a cool funky rock groove at the start of this. The vocals come in over the top of that. This makes me think of INXS to a large degree. It's a fun cut that works quite well. It's an entertaining ride." That pretty well applies to this rendition, too. Although, this has an echoey kind of vibe that I don't remember on the single.
Eye on You
There is a slow moving blues kind of vibe to this thing. This is an entertaining number that really flows well.
What Ya Done
In some ways this is more of a pure modern pop rock tune that either of its predecessors were. The cut has some intriguing textures and a good groove. It's  a nice bit of variety. It's also effective, but the finger-popping on it gets a bit old for me. Maybe if it was a little lower in the mix it wouldn't be as disruptive. I really dig the guitar solo on the tune, but that pop steps on it a bit.
Edge of the World
"This has a killer sort of industrial rock edge to it. The track has a driving rhythmic element. It's gritty and yet lush at the same time. This is a rocking number that works very well." That's what I said when I reviewed the single version of this tune. I stand by those words.
Is It Real
I dig the funky groove of this cut. It has a techno meets EDM and house vibe to it in a lot of ways. This is a bit echoey and quite cool. It represents a bit of variety in a satisfying package.
Come Along
This is a real powerhouse. It has a bit of a dance vibe to it, but overall is a hard rocking jam that's so cool. I suppose that INXS reference has some validity here, too.
Guilty Pleasure
When I reviewed the single version of this, here is what I said, "There is a cool funk guitar vibe at the core of this number. It has a lot of 80s new wave and punk textures. Yet there are electronic space elements that land things closer to EDM in some ways. I can even make out hints of stuff like The Clash at times, though. All in all, this is quite an intriguing tune with a style that's hard to pin down." I would say that all of that applies still.thing, too. This is one of the stronger cuts here, making it a great choice to end things.
Closer Look
"The opening keyboard textures on this sound like something that might have been in a movie soundtrack in the 1980s. Vangelis is a valid comparison on that section. The track works outward to more of a rocking kind of jam that has a lot of Duran Duran and other 80s rock sound built into it. I love the keyboard sounds on this. They are retro and classic in nature. The whole tune rocks well." That's what I said in the single review of this tune. It seems right now, too.
Where Were You?
I said this about the single version of this, "The rhythm section brings this into being. As bit of guitar sound join it definitely makes me think of Hawkwind in some ways. There is a punky edge to this cut along with plenty of electronic sound and space music. This is a somewhat catchy and very potent piece of music. It is particularly effective." While I agree with that, I think that it really has an 80s style to it, too.
Song of the Materials
INXS elements merge with punky edges, space rock and more on this tune. It has some of that Clash thing, too. This is one of the stronger cuts here, making it a great choice to end things.
 
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