Artist: God Lives Under Water
Title: “Life in the So-called Space Age”
Label: 1500 Records
Reviewed By: Colette Engel
Rating: 2 1/2 stars (out of 5)
The latest release from “God Lives Underwater,” “Life in the So-Called Space Age,” is most definitely electronic music, and yet the band members do not consider themselves a techno band. “We tried to make an organic-style record, but all electronic,” GLU’s Jeff Turzo says, “That’s what we’re about. We made the whole record in our bedroom. I would liken us more to Radiohead or David Bowie or Pink Floyd than any techno band. We just use the same tools as techno bands.” Should
you buy it?
I must admit, this record doesn’t sound like most of the other techno I’ve heard. The band prefers to record in the comfort of home because in the studio “you always feel like you have to hurry up.” I guess if you have everything you need at home, why bother with the studio? The question remains—should you buy it?
The first single from “Life in the So-Called Space Age” is “From Your Mouth,” and it’s a pretty good song. It has a catchy beat and the lyrics are interesting. “I’ve heard a million things/ Gossip’s being sent to me/ I don’t wanna believe it/ Until I hear it from your mouth.” Listen to this song once and it’ll stick with you all day. Frontman, David Reilly, says that “There are about 20 people who are asking if I wrote it about them.” He’s not admitting to anything. Reilly doesn’t like to specify about any of GLU’s lyrics. “The songs are going to mean something different to everybody who listens to them. I don’t like to tell people what the deal is, because it pigeonholes the experience of understanding what the song’s about.”
“Can’t Come Down” is another one of the songs I liked on this record. I think it’s because there’s less electronic music involved. It’s more simplistic. It starts off with just a guitar, and although there is an underlying electronic beat to it, the guitar still stays in the foreground, keeping control of the song. The lyrics are interesting. “Please believe me/ Round and round/ Hear the sound…reality crashing into me/ I hear the sound…But I can’t come down.” Intriguing image.
The record got a little tedious after the first few songs. There were a couple of instances that I found myself checking the CD player to see if it was stuck or something. “Behavior Modification” was one of the songs. At the end there is a big blur of humming that made me wonder if my speakers were malfunctioning.
After about 5 songs, I found myself falling into a hypnotic stupor. The music just droned on and I wasn’t processing anything. Maybe it’s me. I had to keep replaying tracks because it all started to run together in my head.
The one song that I was most looking forward to was “Medicated to the One I Love.” I think it was the title that appealed to me. It was another disappointment. The music was tiring but there was one thing I liked bout it—the line “Elastic mind that always bends for my drug of choice.” Hardly enough to recommend the whole song, though.
Should you buy it? I don’t recommend this one unless you’re really a big fan of dirge-like electronica. It started off good but lost something on the way.
Original Date: 1998-05-00
Original URL: http://www.amzmusiczine.com/05_98/newrel10b.htm