The M.E.M.O.R.Y. Lab - Modern Expressing Machines Of Revolutionary Youth
Right, another band from the family of D-Trash Records, The M.E.M.O.R.Y. Lab (or better: The Modern Expressing Machine of Revolutionary Youth Lab) performs an eerie experimental blend of Psychadelic Trip-Hop, Darkened Industrial, Electro with light hints of Breakbeat, Cyber Punk, old school EBM and Metal, reminding me of bands like Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly, NIN and in a way or another Ministry just to mention a few. As a matter of fact, this is quite a hell of a mix!!
Originally this album was recorded between 1994 and 1999, and 10 years later the label D-Thrash Records released it. One notable aspect about this project is about the founding members Marc Urselli, a 3-time Grammy award winning engineer / producer / sound designer / mixer / composer currently living in the USA, and Nicola "the Old Nick" Curri on vocals. These persons are also known for their involvements with few Italian outfits like Aborym, Funeral Oration and Malfeitor.
The album contains 8 diverse tracks filled with enough variations and progression. Few remarkable parts in their music are their long calm relaxing electro-synthetic passages, the occasional symphonies (through strings, glassy voices plus organs) and the extreme multi-layered percussions/drum-machine (lets call it Tribalism), which gives sophisticated rhythmic passages plus grooves. Strong influences from old school Gothic/EBM are strongly present and this is resulted on the caliber of sounds (varying from the classical analog, the 16bit sounds, and the drum-machine sound) and the quality of recording. In addition, chunky guitar sounds also tend to accompany the rest thus enhancing an extreme sound besides the classical electronic sound as we know it!
Vocals are also well varied - from the forced kinds of singing/speeches (more like protesting) which are at times filled with distorted frequencies, to a cross between clean voice singing and whispering. Frankly speaking, the clean voices especially on the track ‘Another Nail Into The Cross’, sounds somehow amateurish but maybe this is also a matter of singing, which might play an important role to enhance a demented atmosphere… but the rest sounds ok.
I also have to state that if this album was released in early 90’s, The M.E.M.O.R.Y. Lab would become a remarkable act. It is however never too late and for those who are into old school Gothic/Industrial/EBM/Electronics, this CD is a worthy piece for your collection. A credit must be given to this duo for creating a tasty cocktail of experimental sounds and genres inside one simple release, organized and mixed with care and attention.
Originally this album was recorded between 1994 and 1999, and 10 years later the label D-Thrash Records released it. One notable aspect about this project is about the founding members Marc Urselli, a 3-time Grammy award winning engineer / producer / sound designer / mixer / composer currently living in the USA, and Nicola "the Old Nick" Curri on vocals. These persons are also known for their involvements with few Italian outfits like Aborym, Funeral Oration and Malfeitor.
The album contains 8 diverse tracks filled with enough variations and progression. Few remarkable parts in their music are their long calm relaxing electro-synthetic passages, the occasional symphonies (through strings, glassy voices plus organs) and the extreme multi-layered percussions/drum-machine (lets call it Tribalism), which gives sophisticated rhythmic passages plus grooves. Strong influences from old school Gothic/EBM are strongly present and this is resulted on the caliber of sounds (varying from the classical analog, the 16bit sounds, and the drum-machine sound) and the quality of recording. In addition, chunky guitar sounds also tend to accompany the rest thus enhancing an extreme sound besides the classical electronic sound as we know it!
Vocals are also well varied - from the forced kinds of singing/speeches (more like protesting) which are at times filled with distorted frequencies, to a cross between clean voice singing and whispering. Frankly speaking, the clean voices especially on the track ‘Another Nail Into The Cross’, sounds somehow amateurish but maybe this is also a matter of singing, which might play an important role to enhance a demented atmosphere… but the rest sounds ok.
I also have to state that if this album was released in early 90’s, The M.E.M.O.R.Y. Lab would become a remarkable act. It is however never too late and for those who are into old school Gothic/Industrial/EBM/Electronics, this CD is a worthy piece for your collection. A credit must be given to this duo for creating a tasty cocktail of experimental sounds and genres inside one simple release, organized and mixed with care and attention.
1. Cambia (Change)
2. A Bad Dream (The Wrong Dream)
3. Divine Eating
4. Mind Rape (Government's Business)
5. Another Nail Into The Cross
6. My Little World
7. To Go All The Way
8. Mother's Womb
