Kody Nielson certainly is the master of musical reinvention. In his first outing as Silicon, he shrugs off many of the musical traits of the Mint Chicks and Opossom, and goes for something altogether more introspective and electronic.
Although when I say electronic, even that's a little misleading, because there'sstill drums, vocals, bass, synths (lots of synths), which are played by Nielson, not programmed. And perhaps that's what gives this meditation on the line between human and machine its soul, for there is plenty of soul here.
It's a surprisingly warm record, the vocals (as processed as they often are) dripping with emotion, the grooves drawing from the worlds of funk, RnB, jazz, and disco. That's Nielson's trick really, to create these almost disembodied voices that still feel full of empathy, yearning, humour, and intrigue.
The opening title track is a master work, combining philosophical ruminations on the power of technology with a stunning melody line, light-filled and pulsing. And it's followed by the somewhat sinister yet upbeat Cellphone, featuring a sample of a real life 911 call.
There's something a little Lynchian in the tone of God Emoji, a light sense of foreboding in its beautiful croon, distant synths, and taut bass, while Burning Sugar is all sly and smooth, except for its fantastic energetic drumming. It's one heck of an ear-worm.
There's some late-night escapism to be found on I Can See Paradise, while Love Peace is a seductive psychedelic ballad highlight, and Blow is like a soft 60s cocoon for your ears (with Bic Runga adding lovely backing vocals).
Artist: Silicon Album: Personal Computer Label: Universal Verdict: Balancing soul with machine
