Midnight Laserbeam- A Death in the Discotheque

It’s about time for indie rock – or college rock, or alternative rock, or whatever the kids are calling it these days – to discover keyboards. The Faint has established quite a cult following, and the Postal Service has brought their marriage of emo singing and old-school electronics to the mainstream. Meanwhile, out of the true DIY scene comes Midnight Laserbeam. Released on the label founded by Babyland, Midnight Laserbeam’s new full-length shares the legendary electronic junk punks’ penchant for analog madness and emotional raw-throated vocal work, but surface similarities aside, this CD has a style all its own. It can be deep and dark, like the drum ‘n’ bass styling of “Swimming In the Lake,” or wistful and melodic, like the slow crunch and reedy singing of “Bent Time.” Sometimes things are almost insufferably hip, as on the muffled retro “Spread Like Sunshine” or the big beat funk of “Fold.” Other moments, like the cymbal-drenched space rock of “Cut the Thread” or the fuzzy experimentalism of “Holding Pattern,” are abstract and internalized. Midnight Laserbeam manages to use an almost entirely electronic palette to paint portraits of myriad genres, most of which have little to do with “conventional” electronic music. This is emo and punk and pop and even psychedelia, yet paradoxically it has no guitars. It’s certainly a bit confusing to a purist of any stripe, but it’s one of the most unique albums you’ll hear this decade. Something this new and unencumbered only comes along ever so often, so check it out!

Visit www.midnightlaserbeam.com for more information