Angelspit- Hideous and Perfect

Artist: Angelspit

CD Title: Hideous and Perfect        

Label: Metropolis Records

Reviewer: Robert Eaton

Date: 10/29/09

Angelspit’s “Hideous and Perfect” may be one of the few releases by an emerging artist this year to live up to its hype. Angelspit is female-fronted, noisy, and infectious. The mix of nominally pop melody with acerbic lyrics, and distorted guitars recalls the Genitorturers, and KMFDM for me. In fact, the electro-duo has just hit the road in support with KMFDM. The band is at the same time political and darkly sardonic and detached. The album’s sound is rich and warmly organic, with characteristic distorted analogue synths. The shared vocal delivery is tight and intense.

            It’s hard to pick stand-out tracks on an album that is solidly good from beginning to end. All the same, “Fuck the Revolution” is a great track: it’s an anthemic song, if anthem-songs are being written these days. There is no doubt that is music meant to unsettle the listener, and not in a superficial or with sensationalism. The song that best conceptualizes the album in a terse 4 minutes and 01 second is “Channel Hell:” “the scene sucks because you suck/you killed it.” If this is any indication, this album doesn’t pull its punches or pick favorites for its vitriol. The next track, “Let Them Eat Distortion,” is equally unsettling in its stream-of-consciousness rush of imagery. The song builds tension as it works towards its conclusions. The result is tight and claustrophobic. It’s an intensely effective song.

           Those that are familiar with the band from their earlier releases Krankhaus (2007) and “Blood, Death, Ivory” (2008) will find that the band is in fine form. In the genre of industrial/cyber punk, there doesn’t seem to be a harder-working band currently, if the long list of tour dates and steady studio and remix releases are any indication. For those who Angelspit is new to them: you’re in for a ride. For those who are familiar with the band, you will find a previously unparalleled intensity and maturity in this release.     

Check out the band: https://www.myspace.com/krankhaus