By Noisia
'Machine Gun,' the first single to be lifted off Dutch trio Noisia's forthcoming full-length, is the sort of drum n bass that might, inexplicably, infiltrate the alternative scene, ala Pendulum - although an industrial tinge means this is far darker than anything Pendulum have ever produced.
Kicking off with a promising beat that's somewhere between the twang of a poor, abused guitar and the trill of a synth, Noisia then lose that single-minded drive that's essential to a good alt-electronica song, by indulging in far too much random synth-work. Although it does occasionally streamline into a fearsomely straightforward, alt-electronic pound, the problem with 'Machine Gun' is that, at its best, it still just resembles a pale imitation of a Pendulum song.
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On 9th March 2010 at 01:16 Anonymous 7659 wrote...
Why does Jessica describe the track's genre as Drum and Bass when it is so clearly Dubstep??? Does she know what she is writing about? Also calling them a poor imitation of Pendulum, Noisia are nothing like Pendulum, this also show Jessica's lack of knowledge on the subject. Please get some reviewers that know what they are talking about.
On 9th March 2010 at 07:56 Dave LMS wrote...
For the record the Noisia band biography mentions that they produce Drum & Bass about 5 or 6 times. Drum & Bass is mentioned again as being the primary type of music under their "style of music" on the band's website. While using "Drum & Bass" several times in describing their own music, neither their biography or website mention "Dubstep" once.
To be clear: I'm only stating what their official site says as I personally do not know what "Drum & Bass" or "Dubstep" are supposed to sound like as genres. They're just meaningless labels to me.
I'm just stating what the band have described themselves as because it is probably relevant to answer your comment.
And while you may be more familiar with the genres and will be able to offer up some far better reference points (because I hold my hands up to say: this isn't what I listen to on a daily basis) I have also listened to the track reviewed here and to these dated mainstream pop ears of mine parts of the lead track did sound quite a bit like the one or two Pendulum tracks I have.
On 9th March 2010 at 15:30 Anonymous 7660 wrote...
First and foremost, although Noisia are most well known for their forays in the Drum and Bass scene, including releases on their Division imprint, they also produce a lot of other styles of music, including Hip-Hop, and in this case Electro (not Dubstep jeff111).
I don't see how it is fair to compare Drum and Bass influenced Rock/Pop (Pendulum), with dirty, dark electro, and claim the latter imitates the former, when there is so little in common between the two. It's like saying The Matrix imitates Finding Nemo.
Next time get someone to do the review who actually knows what they are talking about, and talks about the musical elements of the track, and doesn't just write irrelevant, untrue drivel.
On 9th March 2010 at 15:33 Anonymous 7660 wrote...
*including releases on their Vision imprint...
Division is their outlet for non-DnB productions.
On 9th March 2010 at 17:45 Dave LMS wrote...
From our submissions page provided to bands and labels before they send in music for review, and what I would consider to be general common sense to any band or musician contacting a 'zine for a review of a track:
"Have a look through existing reviews on LMS to determine if we are likely to get whatever it is that your band is producing. There's no point wasting a CD on LMS that could have been sent to a more appropriate website or magazine."
Obviously - as I have professed - my untrained ears have incorrectly associated parts of the track given to LMS by Noisia for review with those 1 or 2 singles I have in my music collection by Pendulum.
Personally, it's my only reference point; and I genuinely don't care that there are "better" reference points I don't know about (it's close enough for me, and no doubt the visitors of this site who also don't live and breathe this genre).
I'm offering this bit of information to demonstrate that it's not just Jessica who has linked elements of the track given to LMS with music created by Pendulum. I am saying: I do too! And I'm not embarrassed to admit that I offer Pendulum simply because it's not a common genre in my CD collection and they sound "a bit like each other" to me.
So given all I have said about me.... why would a band target me with their CD asking for a review when I have clearly demonstrated no prior interest whatsoever in their genre of music.
While I didn't write that review (and these are my views and don't represent Jessica at all), the guidance we offer to bands contacting LMS for reviews is there for this very reason. Be selective who you send your music to and do some research that the magazine is relevant to you. Or you're just sending out free coasters!
On 9th March 2010 at 18:05 Anonymous 7660 wrote...
I'm not disputing the rating, or whether Noisia are the right sort of music for your website (which in my opinion is a ridiculous statement in itself, as surely a website titled 'Leeds Music Scene' should represent all styles of music that are popular in Leeds).
I'm just suggesting that if you do choose to review something, then you should have someone review it who can give a considered, educated opinion on the subject, and not just someone who thinks 'well it sort of sounds like this, but I don't like it as much, so I'm just going to call it a pale imitation of it'.
If you don't have anyone capable of such a review, or if the music doesn't fit in with your website's modus operandi, then feel free to throw the CD onto your aforementioned coaster pile, and don't bother reviewing it.
Not only is not fair to the artists to incorrectly lump their music in as a 'pale imitation' of another artists music, when they have so little in common, but it also makes your website look very shoddy and amateur.
On 9th March 2010 at 18:18 Dave LMS wrote...
You're correct, it does work both ways. There is an onus on LMS to ignore mis-directed CDs just as much as we recommend bands do a little research upfront on who they submit their music to. Our guidance is merely aiming to prevent bands waste their promo CDs on LMS although in the digital age maybe they're only losing the time it takes to send out an email. And you're right, maybe we should be stricter with those bands and labels that send them out promos using a scatter gun approach (by just binning them or deleting emails).
PS - I just want to make clear that I am writing about myself throughout here in reply to some of the comments made. My comments reflect me only and I am not speaking for Jessica who may have many more reference points and may listen to this genre much more than I do. I don't want it to appear like I am tarnishing Jessica with the same brush as I am using on myself (I'm happy to criticise my own musical shortcomings).
On 9th March 2010 at 18:40 Dave LMS wrote...
In an effort to improve my own knowledge can someone post some really clear examples of bands who fit into "Drum and Bass", "Dubstep" and "Electro" genres as mentioned in this discussion. And maybe a good song or two to listen to if they cross over many styles.
I'm now intrigued what these labels mean.
On 9th March 2010 at 21:51 Anonymous 7660 wrote...
Wikipedia is your friend for definitions of genres, and all three are fairly broad genre's, however here are examples of each.
Drum and Bass - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygDELRVOq5A
Dubstep - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9Hy6pmAvpo
Electro - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3MuWapVDec
On 10th March 2010 at 16:32 Anonymous 7664 wrote...
Jessica, pull your head out of your arse, you nme t@rt and learn about underground music before you go writing reviews on it! This is the most rediculous review I have ever read.
