In-FUSED- Misplaced

Artist: in-FUSED
CD Title: Misplaced
Label: DSBP
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 11/11/04

You can tell that Tommy T. (of Diverje fame) loves old school EBM. His new solo project, in-FUSED, goes all over the place, from noisy, high-paced minimal stuff to ambient, but it all bears the mark of someone who’s listened to lots of really early Front 242 and Leather Strip. “Misplaced” and “Breaking the Code” are the most obvious, with their analog drum machines and robotic vocals, but the rest of the album shows certain traits as well. “A Place To Bleed” is noisier, but still fun, a perfect track to stomp to. “Find To Keep” adds trance elements, but there’s still enough reverb on the bass drum to keep the mood of a German dance club circa 1988, while “Beneath” is so unabashedly retro it’s got synthesized handclaps on the rhythm track. Beyond the fondness for vocoders and 808s, this album does feature some more modern elements as well. “Evacuate” has a more contemporary harsh EBM feel bordering on power noise, while “Zonex” is in-FUSED’s nod to drum ‘n’ bass. More abstract experimentation shows up on the chirps and clicks of “Mud Slipperz” and the cut-up beats of “Beardies,” a song T. wrote for his pet bearded dragons. Despite his clear proficiency in composing tracks in various styles, though, it’s the love for electronic music – both new and old – that makes this album such an enjoyable listen. When you listen to in-FUSED, you immediately realize that Tommy T. made this record because he likes this kind of music as much as you do, not because he wants to have the next club hit of the week.

For more information, including some intriguing insights into the background behind each song, visit www.dsbp.cx/infused.