Zeitgeist Reviews -SCISSOR SISTERS, POD, TIAMAT, MON ELECTRIC BIJOU

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CD OF THE WEEK

TIAMAT - Prey

The development of Tiamat over the years from an unremarkable death metal outfit into one of the leaders of symphomic / gothic metal has been astonishing. A lesson, perhaps, for the lesser mortals of today. The one constant factor throughout this development has been vocalist / guitarist / keyboardist / justabouteverything Johan Edlund (or Hellslaughter as he liked to be known back in dark ages). They were first signed under the name Treblinka, but changed their name to Tiamat, an ancient Middle Eastern goddess of chaos, prior to their debut release, "Sumerian Cry".

Over the course of a few average releases, there was nothing to distinguish them from the rest of the Scandinavian death metal pack, but the 1994 tour EP "The Sleeping Beauty — Live In Israel" seemed to act as a catalyst, with Edlund disposing with the services of everyone else, and setting to work on their breakthrough release "Wildhoney".

From then on their ascent was assured, commercially and artistically, peaking on their last release "Judas Christ", an affirming and inspirational release. It was always going to be a difficult one to follow, but "Prey" has arrived. Building on their acknowledge influences,
Sisters of Mercy and Pink Floyd, their progresion is less defined this time around. Unusually, for Tiamat, this is an obvious follow up. In places, there is a slight softening of their sound with the tracks ebbing and flowing seamlessly into one another..

Among the many highlights are "You Carry Your Cross And I’ll Carry Mine", a duet with Sonja Brandt, the powerful single and opening track "Cain", and "The Pentagram", based on a poem by Aleister Crowley and approved by The Order Of The Golden Dawn. Edlunds voice remains a highlight, a sonorous Andrew Eldritch / Peter Steele style croon. My one concern remains the lack of progression from "Judas Christ", but then it is difficult to improve on perfection.

If you're lucky enough to get one of the first pressings you also get "Cain" the video, a making of featurette, wallpapers and a screensaver.

TIAMAT

Prey

SCISSOR SISTERS

P.O.D

MON ELECTRIC BIJOU

SCISSOR SISTERS - Comfortably Numb (CD single)

"There is no pain, you are receding.
A distant ship’s smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can’t hear what you’re sayin’.
When I was a child I had a fever.
My hands felt just like two balloons.
Now I got that feeling once again.
I can’t explain, you would not understand.
This is not how I am.
I have become comfortably numb.

Ok.
Just a little pinprick. [ping]
There’ll be no more --aaaaaahhhhh!
But you may feel a little sick."

Is it about addiction or alienation. Roger Waters could tell us. After all it was the highlight of "The Wall", released by Pink Floyd on their narcissistic rock opera about an emotionally crippled rock star who spits on an audience member. Punk? We got it.

Could there be a less likely song to be transformed into a high NRG dance number by the campest bunch of Bee Gee soundalikes going? Probably not. But they have, it's utterly fabulous, dahling, and will be one of the singles of the year by a mile. And just to show that they can, the whip out a cracking original in the shape of "Rock My Spot" which is pure 70s fonk. Now, 'scuse me, it's time to tease my Jeri Curl.
!

P.O.D (Payable On Death) - Will You

In this space should have been a review of the new P.O.D single. However, the first copy I received had no music, only a 50 second Shockwave presentation for a financial services company, advising me on how to avoid paying Capital Gains tax. So I returned it along with a vitriolic rant about globalisation. The replacement copy was exactly the same. I can, therefore, only assume that P.O.D have refocussed their market initiatives into a new and dynamic area, capitalising on their inherent customer base, but giving up actually playing music. Shame really, I used to quite like them.

MON ELECTRIC BIJOU – Songs Made From Plastic

It's off to lo-fi world now, often an excuse for shoddy songs poor production and a total inability to perform. "It's the feel, man" they whinge, making excuses for their deficiences while hoping their mate from uni who writes for the music press will laud them as the next big thing. Which translates as 3 boilers from Camden and some freeloaders from the inkies.

Thanks be then, that Mon Electric Bijou thoroughly transcend the genre, and make a mockery of my mocking. For Martin Saz (who is MEB) knows his way around a song and a guitar. Not in a my widdle is bigger than your widdle kind of way, rather a see how easy I make it seem kind of way. And sampling an MC5 album is also a recommended way to get into my good books.

Picking out some highlights, there's "Being A Rhino", suffuse with melodies and "Back To
Business", almost Quolike in it's heads down no nonsense manner. Some tracks are rough around the edges, but it never detracts from the overall quality. There are still times where the influences outweigh the material, and you can play spot the Pixie riff, but this is a delightful treat.