IONIC VISION - Homo Sovieticus
Songs: 15  Time:  55:14
DSBP has done North America a great service by signing the only true EBM band left.  Over the past few years Ionic Vision have released a pair of maxi singles and one full length (Rage Against the Acoustic.)  Rumors were floating around that they had disbanded to follow separate musical projects, but that apparently was not the case. Ionic Vision returns in late 1999 with their newest full length, Homo Sovieticus.  While it's not an entirely new album, it does have a few new pieces to whet your appetite in anticipation for their next release.  Containing hits from all of their previous releases, Homo Sovieticus serves as a '…story so far' type album for North America and with the smattering of new pieces, it also generates some excitement of what the future may hold for this European trio.  One of these new pieces is the title track that is presented in two versions, Propaganda and the Politika edit.  Homo Sovieticus (Propaganda) starts off this CD with the pounding beats, rolling rhythms, and clean synth lines that define EBM.  On the Politika edit Ionic Vision opt for a bit more of an experimental approach by implementing a new, lower-keyed beat and equally as subdued rhythm.  The synths are tweaked upwards a bit, giving the track a more tin-like sound.  Mass Madness (from their previous full-length) contains hard thumping beats, shouted chanting vocals, and hard rhythms.  Maschinenzukunft is another new track that carries along the hard-edged (clanging) beats and pounding rhythm structure.  Aggressive in nature, Hypocrite sports an insane rhythm section, reverberating vocals, and a well placed / angst ridden break.  The End (Enraged), featuring Deranged Psyche (Fuze Box Machine) on backing vocals, is slightly more complex in nature although it still maintains its body moving elements, especially in the strict beat programming.  A Crash starts out with a semi-hidden break-beat before plunging the listener into an abrasive sphere of audio mayhem.  Wrapping the CD up are two live tracks (Pain and The End) both of which seem to lack the powerful beat sounds.  I'm sure if heard live and in person the effect of these two tracks may be immensely different, but pressed to CD they just don't come off as strong.  Homo Sovieticus is most definitely one of the strongest DSBP releases (not counting the numerous compilations) and is well worth its price if you like good, hard, driving dance music without all of the frills that accompanies the more complex electro of the 90's and beyond.
   
DSBP                                             Ionic Vision is:
237 Cagua NE                               Sven / Andy
Albuquerque, NM 87108            Contact Ionic Vision @
USA                                               Residentie Cardijin 43
e-mail: TommyT@dspb.cx         2570 Duffel
DSBP homepage:                        Belgium
http://www.dsbp.cx/                   e-mail: ionicdata@yahoo.com
                                                       Ionic Vision webpage:
                                                       http://www.dsbp.cx/ionic

1)  Homo Sovieticus (Propaganda)    2)  Mass Madness          3)  Pain
4)  I Am Your Jesus (Heresy)        5)  Maschinenzukunft (Transmission edition)
6)  D/D (Base)                      7)  Corruption President (Re-elected)
8)  See Me                          9)  Hypocrite             10) Homo Sovieticus (Politika edit)
11) A Crash                         12) The End (Enraged)     13) Cuerva de Amor (Erotica)
14) Pain (live)                     15) The End (live)