Imperative Reaction- Surface

Artist: Imperative Reaction

CD Title: Surface ( Single)

Label: Metropolis Records

Genre: EBM, Industrial

Reviewer: Reg Davey

Date: 7-29-11

Buy CD: https://www.metropolis-mailorder.com/product.php?prodnum=MET+729

Ted Phelps knows how to write a mean tune with a healthy dose of stomp. This has been apparent to me for the 2 years I have been listening to Imperative Reaction. He has always struck me as one of the most accomplished and honest songwriters in the Industrial and Electronic genres today.

The fact that IR have been around since 1996 has certainly helped how polished and, well, to say it again, accomplished the music sounds. The experience shines through on all levels on this latest release (the first single off the self-titled “Imperative Reaction”).

This single has bite, and plenty of it. I hate to over-use a word in reviews, but accomplished seems to be the most fitting word on so many levels with this. The sound is rich, full, confident and assured – this is the sound of an artist who has found his feet and is making music which is all his own.

The single comes with the single version of “Surface”, the club edits of “Surface” and “what is left to say”, and a bunch of remixes from some of the best artists around at the moment. A personal favourite is the Pull Out Kings remix. It adds a unique dimension to IR's music, really mashing it up and turnign it round on it's head. In fact, all the remixes are top-notch in their own way and add a satisfying plethora of dimensions to IR. Any one of these would go well in a club, to be fair.

All in all, a rather tasty addition to Imperative Reaction's discography, a mature, confident stab at the world of Industrial Music. And quite possibly one of the club hits of 2011/2012.

I'm going back for a second listen.