music review

::: Confession of Faith ::: "Stillborn"

brit-pop-meets-electro-industrial

Well this is something that's certainly different. It's like a mix between the Happy Mondays, and other U.K. baggy trouser groups of the late 80s-early 90s, mixed with slow electro-industrial. The male vocals are delivered in a very dry wayward slightly hoarse manner, like the H.M.'s, but they're cool, even if a bit too similar in rhythm throughout all the tracks. If I didn't know they were from the US I'd assume COF were from the U.K. or Europe by the vocal sound.

Indeed COF describe their sound as "industrial celtic". Under the vocals, are slow plonking electroid beats, many layers of bubbling synths, guitars, distorted bass and a, is it a mandolin (?), that meander and weave their way organically through the mix. I really like the contrast of the loose instruments over the tight programmed beats. Another review of this album said: "...make the effort to dig underneath the deceptively "boring" surface and find the golden treasure at the core." Well that pretty much sums it up, but I wouldn't have said "boring", not the right choice of word at all... perhaps "unexcited" is the word to describe the reserved delivery of the vocals and slow beats. The standout track for me is "Barrow" as it's the most unique, plus I know it best from the Chain DLK magazine#7 CD compilation - see review in this issue.

Available for $10 US from C.O.F. - 1677 Fernwood Street, Saint Paul, MN 55108 USA Web: www.confessionoffaith.com E-mail: [email protected]