Prog4you.com - Progressive Rock Review - Electro-Magnetic Workshop

Band/artist: Electro-Magnetic Workshop
Title: Encodenspace
Released: 2007
Label: Skreaminfitz Records

Track listing:
1. Sign In
2. Encoding Space
3. Intermission
4. Out in the World
5. Analogue I
6. The Wonderful World of Stuffed Animals
7. Succubuss
8. The Hall of Electronic Landscapes
9. Another Skeleton Coast
10. Desert Wraith
11. Frog (Jam)
12. Never for Sure, a Fool
13. Zephyr (The Shelter Spider)
14. Digital Communication
15. Yet Another Skeleton Coast (bonus)
16. A Depth Beneath the Sinewave (bonus)
17. Untitled Jam No. 1 (bonus)
18. Mannequin Drive on a Whim '77 (bonus)
19. The Transformation into the Monster from Under the Bed (bonus)

: : Encodenspace : :

Electro-Magnetic Workshop is based in Isle of Wight in the UK, and is headed by transgenders Phaedra Kelly and Melinda Rann. From what is stated I get the impression that both members are transgender - my apologies if I have got this wrong. Anyhow, Encodenspace is their second release, and a self-release from what I can understand.

Musically the band plays experimental electronica, with leaning towards (British) synth pop and to some degree rock music as well. But electronica is the main thing on this release, and as stated an experimental variety of it. Musically it is kinda hard to compare this band to others, but at their best when rocking out a bit I get some association to a rather obscure band called Add N to (X), while I in other tracks are reminded of 80's synth pop with a twist.

As for the songs here, my main feeling after listening to this album is that this could have been a much better album. It hasn't by far the qualities to be a killer album; but it could be much better than it is.

There are basically to aspects to the songs here that are really off-putting to me. The major thing for me is cheesy, cheap sounding keyboards which are used in way too many tracks. Cheesy and cheap, as in the sound you would expect to come from a cheap keyboard sold in toy stores. Some might find that charming; but for me it is extremely annoying; ruining tracks that otherwise would have been ok listens.

The second aspect are vocals; in many tracks the vocal performance suffers badly from extensive use of unrealistic voices. As the band members here are transgender I guess this can't be helped really, and other transgenders probably won't find this as off-putting as I do. Still, for me it is an issue; and I have to be honest about it.

When that is said, there are a couple of really interesting tracks on this release as well. "Succubuss" is a driving song, telling the tale of a man's trying to fight off the temptations of the female sex demon succubus, and here the vocals are right, and the music fast paced and interesting. The mood piece "Desert Wraith" is another interesting piece, with distorted talking and moody synth sounds creating a rather eerie but interesting sound. The bonus track "The Transformation into the Monster from Under the Bed" is a driving rock-inspired tune with some rather interesting distorted vocals, telling a tale as described in the songs title.

Overall this isn't a good release in my opinion though.
But for those that won't be affected by my main issues with this release, this could be an ok addition to the album collection.

Rating 4 (out of 10)
Reviewer: Olav Björnsen

: : Visit the Artist’s Website : :

: : Discography : :
Encodenspace (2007)
Misplaced Technology (2006)

(originally written for www.progressiveears.com)