Comments on: Babyslave’s debut EPs: PINK and BLUE available for free download http://babyslave.wordpress.com/2008/08/10/babyslaves-debut-eps-pink-and-blue-available-for-free-download/ Thoughts and deeds from the collective minds of Babyslave & Hypnotique Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:03:56 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: babyslave http://babyslave.wordpress.com/2008/08/10/babyslaves-debut-eps-pink-and-blue-available-for-free-download/#comment-44 babyslave Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:25:03 +0000 http://babyslave.wordpress.com/?p=28#comment-44 Hi Mick, Thanks for the comprehensive review, always lovely to hear others perceptions of what we do! BTW: the PINK EP is all covers of industrial records songs, in various 'pure' or new fashions thus the slightly incongruous mix! Hi Mick,
Thanks for the comprehensive review, always lovely to hear others perceptions of what we do!
BTW: the PINK EP is all covers of industrial records songs, in various ‘pure’ or new fashions thus the slightly incongruous mix!

]]> By: Mick Bordet http://babyslave.wordpress.com/2008/08/10/babyslaves-debut-eps-pink-and-blue-available-for-free-download/#comment-43 Mick Bordet Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:04:05 +0000 http://babyslave.wordpress.com/?p=28#comment-43 Not a big fan of 'industrial' music as a whole, so perhaps I'm not best placed to comment, but from a purely musical point of view, I did like most of the two EPs. Here's a quick mini-review of each track:- ~Boys on Demand~ "Maneater" for the new millenium. Aggressive female antagonist with 'industrial' backing makes the gentle piano/synth sections somehow chilling. Not fussed with the spoken vocal style, but it DOES suit the character and works for this song. ~Dreamcancer~ Guitar part lacks top end - introduction would have been a little sweeter with shimmering, ringing harmonics of the acoustic guitar. I like the feeling of interruption between verses and at the end of the song, like a dream rudely terminated by reality. ~Snake Seller's Wife~ Reminds me of Dr Who story of the 'Mara' - snake-like creature feeding off dreams - a wild mix of Moroccan markets, snake worship, possession and 70's idea of future technology. My favourite on Blue. ~To Each Their Own~ Nearly lost a mouthful of coffee over "Heimlich Himmler - Barbara Windsor" - what did Babs do to deserve inclusion with this collection of tyrants and genocidal maniacs? I like the choral chant 'All dead and forgot', but the listing of names works better the second time around, when it acts as a backing to the chorus. The second part of this works for me much better than the first (though that may be because the start reminds me of a song the Deserters once did called 'Boring Things' which was a similar monosyllabic list which really didn't come together). ~Little Girls Aloud~ Not an easy listen - drums and vocals remind me of Kate Bush's "Get out of my House" and Fripp's "I may not have had enough of me but I've had enough of you" - a pretty intense rollercoaster with a brief respite in the middle. Good stuff! ~Slow Death~ Pretty grim subject matter with an insistent hi-hat beat ticking away the seconds as the end approaches. Death throes sounding orgasmic - disturbing, yet enticing. ~Stormy Weather~ Seems almost out of place in this collection, yet the acoustic piano and untreated vocal come as a breath of fresh air after the hard-edged other tracks on these EPs. I was expecting to hear some tasteful theremin solo or counterpoint towards the end... perhaps in the album version? The only criticism would be that the middle eight seemed quicker than the initial tempo, and the following verse seemed a bit rushed to keep up. ~I Confess~ Abba meets Altered Images meets the Shirelles. The perfect antidote to 'Boys on Demand', a real up-beat, fun song. Perfect pop. Not a big fan of ‘industrial’ music as a whole, so perhaps I’m not best placed to comment, but from a purely musical point of view, I did like most of the two EPs. Here’s a quick mini-review of each track:-

~Boys on Demand~
“Maneater” for the new millenium. Aggressive female antagonist with ‘industrial’ backing makes the gentle piano/synth sections somehow chilling. Not fussed with the spoken vocal style, but it DOES suit the character and works for this song.

~Dreamcancer~
Guitar part lacks top end – introduction would have been a little sweeter with shimmering, ringing harmonics of the acoustic guitar. I like the feeling of interruption between verses and at the end of the song, like a dream rudely terminated by reality.

~Snake Seller’s Wife~
Reminds me of Dr Who story of the ‘Mara’ – snake-like creature feeding off dreams – a wild mix of Moroccan markets, snake worship, possession and 70’s idea of future technology. My favourite on Blue.

~To Each Their Own~
Nearly lost a mouthful of coffee over “Heimlich Himmler – Barbara Windsor” – what did Babs do to deserve inclusion with this collection of tyrants and genocidal maniacs? I like the choral chant ‘All dead and forgot’, but the listing of names works better the second time around, when it acts as a backing to the chorus. The second part of this works for me much better than the first (though that may be because the start reminds me of a song the Deserters once did called ‘Boring Things’ which was a similar monosyllabic list which really didn’t come together).

~Little Girls Aloud~
Not an easy listen – drums and vocals remind me of Kate Bush’s “Get out of my House” and Fripp’s “I may not have had enough of me but I’ve had enough of you” – a pretty intense rollercoaster with a brief respite in the middle. Good stuff!

~Slow Death~
Pretty grim subject matter with an insistent hi-hat beat ticking away the seconds as the end approaches. Death throes sounding orgasmic – disturbing, yet enticing.

~Stormy Weather~
Seems almost out of place in this collection, yet the acoustic piano and untreated vocal come as a breath of fresh air after the hard-edged other tracks on these EPs. I was expecting to hear some tasteful theremin solo or counterpoint towards the end… perhaps in the album version? The only criticism would be that the middle eight seemed quicker than the initial tempo, and the following verse seemed a bit rushed to keep up.

~I Confess~
Abba meets Altered Images meets the Shirelles. The perfect antidote to ‘Boys on Demand’, a real up-beat, fun song. Perfect pop.

]]>