Search - State of Being :: Implosion

A band in transition

Haunting Me | 02/28/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"State of Being's "Implosion" marks a band in transition. Still present are the rhythms, synthesizers and vocoders of previous State of Being material (i.e. 1995's "Dysfunctional Vision"), but this disc adds live drums, bass and buzzing guitars to the mix. Much of the material on "Implosion" plays off of this contrast, combining earthy themes as in "Erosion" and "Rain," with technological subjects from information overload ("To Be or Not To") to space exploration ("Red Frontier").



This mix may be best realized on the third track "Instinct" where themes of primal intuition run intermittently heated and calculated. The Bowie-influenced "Fall" is also a stand-out track. The lead vocals throughout are often reminiscent of Peter Murphy or Douglas McCarthy (Nitzer Ebb), while the warm female voice on "Mindrise" is augmented by a huge chorus of vocals in the refrain.



Some tracks on this disc work better than others, as the ambitious arrangements sometimes fight themselves.



The CD ends on an up-note with a fast-paced redux of "Instinct" remixed by ex-Stabbing Westward member Andy Kubiszewski. He would later produce the band's subsequent release "Haywire" -- solving the aforementioned issues, and then some."