Bunker Soldier- The Debris Field

Artist: Bunker Soldier
CD Title: The Debris Field
Label: Neo Cultural Front Records
Reviewer: Richard Edge
Date: 5-01-06

With a band name taken from an OMD song, it is not surprising that this latest offering from Bunker Soldier, aka Tim Tyran, is a synth pop opus. From roots and history as diverse as rave and industrial music comes this incredibly polished and commercial offering.

The Debris Field, a name taken from the wreckage left after a plane crash, follows the tradition of its predecessors in using a wide variety of guest vocalists to great effect.

The first three tracks feature Les Farrington, who adds his oddly British-sounding tones to the mix, bringing to mind the sounds of the Lightning Seeds. H

ildegunn Gjedrem Surdal reprises her previous involvement with the project, adding her lustrous vocal vibes to a selection of tracks. “Drive me Home’ and “Full Circle’ are her moments of triumph on this album, at times evoking memories of Ireland’s The Corrs.

As each vocalist is introduced to listener though, the sound seems to subtly shift in direction. By the time Tanya Michelle enters on the dark trip-hop number, ‘Disappoint’ and the eastern flavours of ‘Infection’ one is almost forced to question the focus of the album and its status as a coherent product.

None of the tracks are particularly poorly written or executed, in fact; on the contrary, this is superbly produced, with a well-defined commercial-friendly air to it. The changes in vocalists though are perhaps the album’s downfall. Just as one becomes comfortable with the vibe a particular singer brings, the vibe changes. For me, Tyran should choose one and stick with them, with my vote going to Tanya Michelle.

Visit the band: https://www.bunkersoldier.com