Lunch of Champions

TC Electropunk Volume 4

I’m not an expert on electro punk, or electro full strength either.  This collection of MPLS EP is something to be proud of.  The fact that someone can sit in their basement and write this stuff out of thin air is admirable.  I’m just going to tackle what I feel to be the stand out tracks on this most recent collection. 

The disc starts off with “Desperado” by Avenpitch.  This is definitely one of the top three tracks on this collection.  Avenpitch sounds the most like a “band” and something that you could really enjoy seeing live.  The track is memorable, exciting and thoughtful.  This band could easily move into live band form and still retain the ElectroPunk sound that is desired.  Next, ikki’s “Goodbye cruel world.” feels almost like a sing-along for adults.  The drums are very industrial, hard hitting and full of great American cheesy goodness.  The seduction of Milkbar comes in next on the list.  The song “Stop (Check me out),” starts with a hilarious phone conversation from what sounds like a pimp and a somewhat unsuspecting female.  The song moves into a very confident L.A sexpot hook.  This to me is pure electro.  “Corporate Trance” by Iron Balls Magente is a song written by someone who knows how to write this stuff.  It seems focused and the sitars in the background give it a lot of character.  It also feels very British, cute and determined.  Mach FoX’s “Build it Down,” is a fun cross between the B52’s, New Order and Interpol.  The guitar is pure Dream Theater/Billy Idol cheese, but, is totally forgivable and warranted.  Great track.  For you They Might be Giants fans, there is Zibra Zibra’s “Lions on the Astroturf.”  The vocal tone is so close to TMBG that I had to check and make sure it wasn’t.  The song is playful and put together to be both funny and listenable to the ear more than once in your lifetime.   Another stand out is “Private Apocalypse” by Apox.  This track is nearly perfect.  The 70’s soul rhythms will remind you a lot of what the local MPLS Hip Hop scene has been so good at.  It glides smoothly, but, the vocal track feels secondary and unimaginative.  I just wish that the melody of the vocals could have been as stand out and strong as the rest of the song.  Otherwise, it is divine.  Last is the Unicorn’s like “>Sexy” by coincidentally a band called Unicorn Basement.  Like the Unicorn’s, they are loving what they do and showing that ElectroPunk can be loose and not as serious as you may have thought. 

TC ElectroPunk Volume 4 is a great collection of different styles all packed into this handy compact disc.   Who knew that the Twin Cities housed such innovative Electro –songwriters?  I know I didn’t.  Thank you to TC Electropunk for shining light on this local scene for all of us to enjoy, even if it’s just a snapshot.