INFORMÄTIK - Syntax
Songs: 12  Time:  61:38
It was quite easy to see why Metropolis picked up Informätik's debut CD, Direct Memory Access, for wider distribution a few years back.  Judging from the powerful music held therein, Metro had to have had some inclination that their sophomore release would prove to be that much better.  In 1999 Informätik struck back with their latest incarnation, Syntax.  Containing 9 new tracks and 3 remixes, Informätik proved that Direct Memory Access was definitely not a fluke.  Stripped down, aggressive electro best describes Informätik's sound.  Authoritative beats dominate tracks such as Things to Come, Watching You Watching Me, and Innocence and Blood.  Fierce rhythms rumble through Nil and Now Here.  A Variety of interesting electronic patterns emerge within many tracks, especially the noise structured, flat beats in Retrogradation and the punchy, retro-ish synth stabs in Nameless.  For the most part, the vocals are gritty, gravely and dirty and the electronics are presented in such a way as to draw the listener in without overloading their senses with complex sequences.  All the way around, the original pieces on Syntax are fresh and exciting, and that's not including the trio of remixes.  Decoded Feedback take Peril Eyes and add in a nice, rich string sound and layer it over top of the compact beats and cavernous vocals.  NCC (NeoCyberChrist) rework Watching You Watching Me and give it a more Euro electro sound by toning down the beats and placing more emphasis on the sequences.  Lastly, the Dub mix of Things to Come is pretty self-explanatory. Focusing on the music, the vocals are completely omitted, leaving one the sparse samples, trippy beat, and thick sequences.  Syntax, overall, is a solid CD that hasn't really gotten the attention it deserves.  It's always refreshing to hear an electro band from the US who doesn't feel the need to create a coldwave atmosphere.
   
METROPOLIS RECORDS                         Informatik is:
P.O. Box 54307                                                Da5id / Matthew
Philadelphia, PA 19105                                  Contact Informatik @
e-mail: metropol@voicenet.com                   e-mail: informatik@sinless.com
METROPOLIS homepage:                          Informatik homepage: 
http://www.metropolis-records.com           http://www.sinless.com/informatik

1) Things To Come (War Changes Nothing)    2) Night Life                3) Entrophy (Syntax Mix)
4) Nil                                     5) Watching You Watching Me  6) Now Here
7) Retrogradation                          8) Nameless                  9) Innocence and Blood
10) Peril Eyes (DECODED FEEDBACK Remix)    11) Watching You Watching Me (NCC Remix)
12) Things to Come (Dub Mix)