Ohgr, the nouveau-industrial collaboration between Skinny Puppy's Ogre Nevik and Mark Walk, returns with the sophomore chapter of its wry, 21st century schizoid man industrial shtick. The delicious, silly pun of its title ... more »is a knowing wink to longtime fans and paranoids alike, a telling hint of just how seriously the industrial music vets may take themselves. But their music is another matter, and the Ogre/Walk duo manage to cut through the slick showbiz hoodoo of more successful contemporaries like Marilyn Manson and White Zombie, seeking no less than to tap into the rich tangled, if oft-oxidized roots of industrial/electro rock, from Cabaret Voltaire and Throbbing Gristle to "HiLo"'s more dance-floor-friendly nods to OMD and the Silicon Teens. Punctuated with compelling digital noise, fervent beats, and deceptively soothing interludes, Ogre's processed voice haunts "JaKo" and "WaTergaTe" like a malignant computer virus. Yet there's an often playful '80s electro-pop sense at work throughout, from subtle melodic touches to the overall economy they bring to every track, even the propulsive sequencing of the instrumental "ShiTe". Enhanced CD also contains a video for the track "MaJik" --Jerry McCulley« less
Ohgr, the nouveau-industrial collaboration between Skinny Puppy's Ogre Nevik and Mark Walk, returns with the sophomore chapter of its wry, 21st century schizoid man industrial shtick. The delicious, silly pun of its title is a knowing wink to longtime fans and paranoids alike, a telling hint of just how seriously the industrial music vets may take themselves. But their music is another matter, and the Ogre/Walk duo manage to cut through the slick showbiz hoodoo of more successful contemporaries like Marilyn Manson and White Zombie, seeking no less than to tap into the rich tangled, if oft-oxidized roots of industrial/electro rock, from Cabaret Voltaire and Throbbing Gristle to "HiLo"'s more dance-floor-friendly nods to OMD and the Silicon Teens. Punctuated with compelling digital noise, fervent beats, and deceptively soothing interludes, Ogre's processed voice haunts "JaKo" and "WaTergaTe" like a malignant computer virus. Yet there's an often playful '80s electro-pop sense at work throughout, from subtle melodic touches to the overall economy they bring to every track, even the propulsive sequencing of the instrumental "ShiTe". Enhanced CD also contains a video for the track "MaJik" --Jerry McCulley
Joseph M. (RoboticJoe) from TOLEDO, OH Reviewed on 2/16/2011...
Fabulous OhGr ohh great OhGr your producing and music amazes me!
CD Reviews
Nivek Ogre = Crazy Mofo...again
R. Brown | HSV, AR | 08/15/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This, the second chapter in Ohgr's "let's see what kind of weird effects I can get out of this keyboard" saga. SunnyPsyOp is definitely a step up and a step forward in a different direction than it's older sibling; Welt. This album is much darker than Welt, and seems to take a few steps into Skinny Puppy industrial territory. SunnyPsyOp also seems to be much more cohesive than Welt as most of the songs are connected between intro's and outro's, and all seem to fit nicely together. The CD also comes with a great video (for your computer) for the song MaJiK. My only complaint about the album is it seems a tad bit short and perhaps could have had a few more tracks on there. Aside from that, yet another great musical achievement from Mister Ogre."
Better than Welt
EerieVonEvil | The Rabbit Hole | 06/21/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Welt was pretty good, but this one blows that record out of the water. It is so much more lush and varied in style. Songs like Jako and Majik are highlights. One or two may be less memorable but as a whole this proves that Ogre can hold his own ground. I dont mind one bit that he is singing, even if I did prefer his sick as hell distorted vocals that were present on earlier puppy releases. He sounds great on here and I totally recommend this to Ogre and Cevik Key fans alike. Also get Cevin Key's "The Dragon Experience." That record is also essential like SunnyPsyOp is and all Skinny Puppy albums are!"
Excellent...Please excuse the hostility
Geofrey D. Vanderlinden | Grand Rapids, Michigan United States | 10/17/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Seldom do we get something this delightful anymore...we meaning Industrial fans. Please note, the following cheif complaints and me debunking of said complaint
1.) It isn't skinny puppy....Umm..Yeah. We know. Thats why it doesn't say Skinny Puppy on the front. Just because Ohgre is in the band does not mean it should sound like Skinny Puppy. It's it's own animal
2.) Mark Walk is not cEvin Key.... See above
3.) It's too "poppy"....People expect that anything with a Skinny Puppy alumni to have that grating, harsh edge to it. This has a wee bit of that, but it's much more precisely placed. PLEASE, remember that Ohgre and Skinny Puppy are two separate entities. Judge them separately, by their own merits and flaws.
All in all, the album is amazing. The bonus video fer the CD rom is a nice treat, though if ever I see it on MTV I'll die of surprise."
It's not supposed to sound like Skinny Puppy!
Wayne Larsen | Orlando, FL United States | 05/13/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ohgr singing? Singing choruses? Yes! Another fantastic dive into the cess-pool of Ohgr's warped mind. Mark Walk has a knack for tweaking the most out of Ohgr's voice, using every vocoder/pitch corrector effect in the book, and then some. These are not the audio collages Skinny Puppy fans are used to, but instead are structured songs, and these songs, believe it or not, have hooks! The vocal lines/choruses of "HiLo", "Jako" and "Watergate" are ultra modern, and the melodic noise hooks of "Majik", "Chemtale" and "Dog" hint at latter era Skinny Puppy. There are even a few noise sections to annoy your "normal" friends with. Although the music isn't as nightmarish or chaotic as a Skinny Puppy album, it's originality and futuristic sensibility should satisfy old school SP fans as well as draw in new industrial/electronica listeners."
Don't approach this expecting another Welt
Wayne Larsen | 08/03/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"At last, the new album by Ohgr. Skinny Puppy fans can rejoice, as this album reminded me, at least, of the direction SP was taking before splitting up/dying out. DOn't get this expecting another Welt. I loved Welt, it reminded me of NIN's pretty hate machine-all pop tracks that could be individually taken in. But Welt this ain't. Sunnypsyop feels more like a concept album, and that's not bad, just different. Listen to it the whole way through a few times without paying too close attention to it, and like Skinny Puppy it will work it's way in your head..."