Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 August 2011 08:06
Written by Robert Eaton
Artist: anaRobik
CD Title: Operator’s Manual
Label: Self-Released
Genre: Club, Electronica
Reviewer: Robert Eaton
Date: 3-7-11
anaRobik makes quirky club/electronica music. “Operator’s Manual” is anaRobik’s debut album --thirteen songs made for the club dance-floor. The album features eleven club-pop nuggets and two remixes.
The album opens with “Communicate” which has a soft synths and airy falsetto vocals. “Is it Real?” has a slow bassy groove and fat organic sounding synths. “Outside” features robotic-sounding vocals, with jangling guitars and a dance beat. “Souvenir” is a nicely sound pop song with a new-wave feel, with an interesting break with crooning vocals and record scratching. ”My Company” is bizarre and heavily vocoded, a sparse arrangement made strange with the vocal’s meandering slow pace. “My Time” has a predictable upbeat dance groove with slap bass and a catchy chorus hook. “Static” has a somewhat frenzied pace, with some nice instrumental flourishes. “Medication” is the most unusual song on the album, it has a meditative quality to it. The song has minimalist drums and a droning musical backdrop. The remix of “Communicate” improves on the original, it’s a very danceable track.
If you know it’s club music then you need not expect much. There’s good songs here that are upbeat and fun in their way. “Operator’s Manual” will appeal to those who like club pop and electronica which is sometimes as bizarre as it is tuneful.