INDEX - Faith in Motion
Songs: 14  Time: 77:12
The one man phenomenon known as Index returns with his third full-length CD on C.O.P. Int’l.  On Faith in Motion there is a definite progression of sound from his earlier releases.  Faith in Motion is a gun loaded with an array of multi-layered sound bullets.  Each song shifts into another gear, implementing various sounds and ideas.  From hip-hop styled beats to chaotic, near experimental pieces, Faith in Motion is as diverse as an album get possibly get.  Even the intro and exit tracks (Nether Days and Future Tense) that frame this 14 track, first-rate CD are built with layer upon layer of sounds, effects, and samples and upon the first listen you know you’re in for a treat.  The track Blush Response is broken down into three parts, the first of which is simply comprised of a solid tone that is manipulated by several pitch changes and used to set the eerie mood.  When Part 2 begins, the song structure takes root with the addition of a wet rhythm line complimented with thick sounding beats, ghostly vocals, and a multitude of fresh, innovative sounds.  Part 3 finishes off the track by dismissing many of the heavier elements, including the vocals, and continuing on with the rhythm, percussion, and well chosen sequences.  Mesh Life / World Processor introduces a nice hip-hop styled beat alongside the rich analogue sequences and vaporous vocals.  Much like the finale of the previous mentioned track, this one also finishes off by deconstructing the track, leaving only the uncanny samples and an unwavering sequence.  Perfume Sniper (Revox) is a more straight forward electro dance piece with angst ridden vocals and a pounding beat.  This piece still jumps around quite a bit by its constant changes, which include a beat that suddenly departs from the typical thump-thump-thump and shifts into several break-beat breakdowns, which breathes life into what could have turned out to be a stale track.  As much as I hate to make this comparison, Eric’s vocals do tend to have a certain Ogre-esque quality to them on this track.  Paradive is one of the more experimental tracks, but not in a soundtracky sort of way.  The overall sound of Paradive is a paralleled to intelligent dance music, but with more of an aggressive edge.  This piece never gets to harsh, but rather walks a thin line between electro and idm.  Having not heard the original in many, many years, I can’t make a comparison between Index’s version of The Model and the original by Kraftwerk.  Eric’s cover is full of deep analogue sounds, reminiscent of the sound of electro in the early years, which leads me to believe that this is a equitable version.  Not that I didn’t like the title track, but when placed in between stronger pieces it plays off as rather bland.  Faith in Motion is a slower piece with a semi-techno based percussion, flittery sequences and breathy vocals.  Cielo Nocture is an instrumental track that features piano alongside a constant, rolling beat, thick sequences, and mysterious, evil-sounding samples.  After the more melodious Cielo Nocture comes a much heavier, harsher piece, World Warhead Broadcasting.  Again, Eric piles the sequences and sounds upon a cyber/militaristic beat, which, like in many of the other tracks, goes through several changes.  Sovereign Glow has that older Non-Aggression Pact style to both the rhythm and the vocal delivery; dense rap type rhythms with raspy rap styled vocals on top.  Megabyss / Neurodizney are two pieces that blend together roughed up electro sequences, aggressive beats, peculiar sound effects / samples and half-hidden vocals.  The ‘thank you’ section of any artist’s liner notes is usually a good way to figure out their influences and judging by Index’s list, which ranges from Metalheadz to FLA to Paracont to Implant Code to :Wumpscut:, it seems that Eric draws from many wells at once and all of these various sounds are used in unison wonderfully.  I admire Eric’s work not only for the sound, but also for the feeling I get that he put a lot of work into Faith in Motion.
 
COP                                         Index is:
981 Aileen St.                         Eric Lawrence Chamberlain
Oakland, CA 94608                Contact Index @
COP homepage:                    PO Box 9141
http://www.copint.com        Albuquerque, NM 87119