music review

::: Lacklustre ::: CDs: "Nobody Likes a Loser", "Human Virus E.P.", "Nation of Bastards", "The Music is Violent"

techno

Canberra residents, have you seen those flyers around town or adverts in DRUM and BMA magazines titled "Addiction? Depression? Lonely?"? They're advertising a free sampler cassette for releases by the hardcore gabba techno group LACKLUSTRE from the Mindstep Records. Taking the bait (so that I could find out if this music would help my friends who suffer those above aflictions) I rang up and ordered the sampler tape.

Intrigued by what I heard, I bought copies of two Lacklustre CDRs: "The Music is Violent" and "Nation of Bastards". Both CDRs are full length and feature an amusing, entertaining and stomping variety of what is self-proclaimed yobbo-techno. But don't let that term put you off. Suitable and more commonly recognised descriptive terms are gabba and hardcore techno. Within this genre the music is quite diverse from blam-blam dancefloor tracks through to more quirky and intricate trance and acid influenced pieces.

My favourite track so far is "Let us help you spend more than you earn". There are LOTS of samples from films, many of which aren't for the feint-hearted or easily offended. So, do you suffer from addiction, loneliness & depression? Well, listening to Lacklustre might not necessarily cure these outright, but it will more than likely put a smile on your face, set your toes a tappin and raise a few eyebrows: always a big first step to beat those dread afflictions.

As the sampler tape is no longer available, the best way to enter the world of Lacklustre and related projects such as "Static" & "Flux-tube" is to send $5 for the sampler "Human Virus" CD E.P. It's got 70 or so minutes of music on it!

Contact: the Mind steP Records, Po Box 3465 Hermit Park, Queensland 4812 Australia Ph 0416 066 976 Email: [email protected] or call 0416 066 976. Even better, you can order the above-mentioned CDR releases for $7 each. http://communities.msn.com/theMindstePRecords