{ VIRUS MAGAZINE SYNTHPOP FEST REV.

Subject VIRUS MAGAZINE SYNTHPOP FEST REVIEW
Posted Date: [26 Jan 2005 | Wednesday] - 5:09 AM

VIRUS MAGAZINE SYNTHPOP FEST REVIEW!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NYC SYNTHPOP FESTIVAL Friday, Jan. 14, 2005 @ RARE 416 W. 14th St., NYC BANDS: Design/Build, Eisdrive, In-A-Sense, Xero/G, Halovox, Freezepop NYC's local tastemaker and party organizer Lee Sobel puts on the first NYC Synthpop Festival at club Rare in NYC's Meat-packing District. An oddly appropriate location for the first NYC Synthpop Festival since the area has morphed from the gay fetish clubland into the trendy backdrop for Sex And The City. Or in synthpop terms the area has been sanitized from Soft Cell's "Sex Dwarf" to the Pet Shop Boys' "Being Boring". So past the fashion models and the fabulously wealthy I went to see an evening of synthpop of varying genres and qualities. First of the evenings performers, was New Jersey quartet Design/Build. Their retro synthpop from the age of Moog was a blend of Komeda, Broadcast, Belle And Sebastian, Tubeway Army and "Autobahn"-era Kraftwerk. Their droney melodic music with female vocals sounded like the furture being envisioned in the sixties. A modern future of cloudbursting World's Fair optimism rather than Jetsons era rock. The NYC/NJ area Eisdrive's industrial/EBM made the genre seem as about as original and exciting as nu-metal. Christian Engel's vocals sounded more bored than angry and the music sounded confused and busy rather than complex and nihilistic. But the mall-fetish fashionistas loved this and displayed an enthusiasm not seen since Hot Topic had a clearance sale on black vinyl skirts. I could hear the influences of great bands like Icon Of Coil, Retrosic and SITD but the conviction, inspiration, and energy were missing. An odd choice to follow the industrial/EBM of Eisdrive was the melodic romantic synthpop of In-A-Sense. This is the guilty pleasure synthpop influenced by bands like Naked Eyes, A-Ha, Alphaville and "Crush"-era OMD. All the songs are about yearning love, contain irresistable hooks, and make you believe it is still 1985 or 1986. In-A-Sense will have a single on A Different Drum's upcoming 6 CD "State of Synthpop 2005". Hum this prompop any pretend to have no shame as you imagine a date with Molly Ringwald. Of course I do wonder how two men approaching 40 can do this without feeling guilt? As light and sweet as cake frosting, don't let anyone see any of there songs on your I-Pod. Next came the night's most visually accompolished performance, the multi-media set by Xero-G. They play a high energy anime electro that can either feature utopian or apocalyptic lyrics. Female-male trade off vocals and sounds in a way similar to Lucia and Sasha K of KMFDM. The goggle wearing pair played their video game soundtrack to an anime slideshow that alternated lyrics and clips from some of the most recognizeable anime of the last decade. Between there facial expressions and costumes, Xero-G seemed the most likely to play at a Raelian cult party. Seasoned veteran of the NY alternative underground Frank J. Freda played songs from his most current release and incarnation Halovox. If you read Frank's webpage you will see other influences listed but Frank's influence is David Gahan. The joking singer and sole member of Halovox seemed to be a one-man Depeche Mode tribute. He was joined by Seth of Xero-G for the evening but Halovox is Frank J. Freda. One can only imagine that 101 was a life changing event for Frank. I'm not sure if he even realizes how many of David Gahan's mannerisms he's adopted. Halovox's set ended with a cover of Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence". Although Frank's performance is professional and the songs are good, one wishes Frank would branch out and do a Marc Almond cover. After Frank's impersonation of David Gahan, a 25 minute stage preparation and an influx of another 100 bored semi-drunk nomadic New Yorkers, Freezepop took the stage to a mostly indifferent audience. Freezepop who have appeared on a half dozen synthpop or electro-clash comps play a kitschy, fun, "Square Pegs" type of new wave that is made for dancing. Gaining fans, dancing partners and converts with each novelty song, the momentum stopped when an equipment problem caused a delay in the show. In an effort of amusement, the keyboard player played the familar synth notes of Van Halen's "Jump". The eruption of applause of the crowd for Van Halen broke the morale of my Casio heart. The too crowded to dance dancefloor, the influx of people who couldn't name a Human League song (not even that one....I was working as a waitress in a cocktail song), and over-priced drinks had me leaving before the end of Freezepop's set. Perhaps the next synthpop fest will take place where more people will be thinking and discussing Phillip Oakey and Ralf Florian rather than Sarah Jessica Parker and Stella McCartney. Michael Wozny, 17 Jan 2005