Absurd Minds- The Focus

Artist: Absurd Minds
CD Title: The Focus
Label: Dancing Ferret Discs
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 6-26-05

Absurd Minds’ main claim to fame is that they do Project Pitchfork better than Project Pitchfork does these days, and that really is the long and short of it. Yes, their lead singer, Stephan Grossman, sounds almost exactly like Project Pitchfork’s Peter Spilles, but the comparisons don’t even end there. Poppy mid-tempo EBM beats? Yes. Melodic analog bleeps? Yes. Soaring synthesized strings? Yes. It’s all there. Neither as eclectic as Project Pitchfork’s new material nor as driving and aggressive as their early work, Absurd Minds find a nice middle ground with beats that you can dance to without getting too worn out and lyrics you can listen to without getting overtaxed (the band seems especially fond of the kind of pop-Gnostic philosophizing typified by people who take the “Matrix” films too seriously). Apart from Project Pitchfork, Grossman and company also reveal some ‘80s influences on the old school electro of “I Offer Just Once” and the infectiously New Wave keyboard arpeggios of “A Stride Through Time,” but it’s “Herzlos,” a more aggressive, modern-sounding track with a soaring string section, that stands out as the band’s best effort. It’s even sung in their native German for that extra touch of authentic industrial coolness. This CD, the band’s first domestic release, also features a couple of additional remixes not present on the original limited edition import. If you love Project Pitchfork but just can’t bear to dance to “Timekiller” in the clubs anymore, chances are you’ll enjoy Absurd Minds: it’s the same, but sort of different!

Visit www.absurdminds.de for more information.