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Recording:
  Lost Patterns  
 
Artist:
  Pleasurecraft  
 
Label:
  self-released  
 
Release Date:
  21.July.2004  
 
Reviewed by:
  PostLibyan  
         
 
Rating:
   
         
 
Review:
 

Pleasurecraft are a synthpop act from Seattle, Washington, who sound as if they stepped out a time warp from 1985. Of course, there is a fair amount of that sort of thing going around these days, what with the burgeoning electroclash movement and the resurgence of post-punk as an art from. However, both of those genres have manifested themselves as angry, energetic music. Pleasurecraft, on the other hand, make happy, bouncy synthpop that is light without being boring. It's not confrontational, but you can still tap your feet to it.

I find it to be a really good mix, and have enjoyed this album tremendously on repeated listens. There is a whole lot to enjoy here, with no song being a snoozer.

The album starts with a dash of old school synthpop in Fxation, which sounds like it could have been a big radio hit (for some people with really big hair) back in the 80s. The next tune, Simplicity is a frenetic, electroclash song that is vaguely reminiscent of The Faint. The drum machine here is a spastic sputtering of beats and hi-hat hits, while the keyboards soar, the vocalist almost yells, and the guitar noodles. It's a really good song that i bet sounds great in concert, or when played loudly by a DJ at some club.

Just to mix things up, the next tune, Closer, is a light and breezy affair of strummed guitar and subdued vocals. This is followed by Save My Breath, which features that wobbling synth bass sound from the 80s. This song grows wonderfully, and has a really happy beat. All of a Sudden is next, and it starts off okay, with light guitarwork and keyboarding that sounds like Closer part 2. But then, during the bridge, the guitar goes into overdrive, the synths soar to the front, and the beat increases in intensity. Suddenly, Pleasurecraft are channeling New Order, and they really do it well. This song ends wonderfully.

The next tune, Without a Sound is a decent song, but not very remarkable to my ears. It is followed by two great songs. I Need You is really damned catchy, with soaring synths, a silly little melody taken from the early 80s synthpop pioneers, and a clanking drum machine churning out a proto-rave beat. Again, i bet this one is great for the clubs or in concert. Tiger Pearl follows, and is perhaps the most modern sounding tune on the album in that the beat is computer mangled, making this song almost more IDM than synthpop. However, this stuttering beat is combined with some really old sounding synth patches, that wobbling synth bass sound, and very nice guitarwork, all of which keep it from becoming too modernized. The song moves along comfortably, and is infinitely catchy. A really good song.

This is followed by Matters Not Gray, another decent but unremarkable tune. Comfortable is a short instrumental that comes next, and it is really well done. Layers of synths, keyboard, and guitar compete with one another through an overall happy little melody. Lots of fun.

And finally we have To The Shore, which again features a slightly more modern beat combined with nice guitar chording. The guitarwork in this song is really nice, and the keyboards and synths are a perfect accompaniment. It is catchy and pretty fun. An excellent way to end the album.

One other thing, about the band. Pleasurecraft are a four piece, and a slightly unusual one at that. Two of the members run computers, keys, synths, drum machines, etc. The other two play guitar (often with effects). It is as if they are the unholy union of the standard electronica act (aka, 2 guys with computers) and a standard folk act (aka, 2 guys with guitars). Weird, but it really works for them.

I got this a few months back and i have been listening to it a lot. It's a great album for driving around to, or for listening to at home as you clean up, cook, play with the cats, or do anything requiring movement. It's not really the type of album you just sit and listen to. But then again, sometimes you need music to make you move, and Pleasurecraft do that quite well.

 
         
 
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