Biomekkanik - State of Perfection

Title: State of Perfection
Artist: Biomekkanik
Genre: Electronic
Release Date: 19th June 2009
Label: Subspace Communications



Album Review

It all started out in the early 80s with a guy, heavily influenced by the New Romantic Scene of that time. Soon after a DEPECHE MODE concert in 1986, Christer Hermodsson started playing in several less successful bands. In 1997, the idea of a solo project, called BIOMEKKANOID came up, resulting in an ULTRAVOX cover song on a compilation. That same year he was offered to join S.P.O.C.K and took over the role as songwriter and producer later on. In 2001, the solo project idea came back. In 2004, a demo of ‘License of Live’ was featured on the electriXmas compilation.

They say that good things take their time and never before I agreed more to this saying, because if ever an album like ‘State of Perfection’ would come out of such long processes we wouldn’t have to complain about lack of quality in music. Obviously, seasoned hands have shaped the sound and channelled it into a top production. So, now that I have stressed your patience enough with introductions and eulogies I will finally start talking about the music and the opening bang ‘Heaven Awaits’ whose apocalyptic mood manifests within its first seconds with merely beats to be heard encompassed by tremendous live drumming later on. Christer’s vocals as clear and well-sounding as they’re dark and subtly aggressive give no rise to doubts what he’s thinking about a certain religion and during his vocal delivery the sound and atmospheres densify to reach their climax in a chorus that could hardly get more intense. With an emphasis on the “Rock” in ‘Rock Solid’ I give you a good idea about the feel of the track which is filled with naturally sculpted drum sound of the driving kind and accelerated sequences getting injected into your system like adrenaline from a syringe with the result being your limbs won’t stop moving until the song ends, I’m not kidding.

As deep as a 1,000 miles of ‘Pitch-Black Ocean’ is also the song itself, a sad story packed in a sad arrangement that unites goose bump melodies and rhythms having something industrial to them so is this dark industrial pop? Whatever you might ant to call it one thing’s set has never given a better sample of his skills as a singer on the album. A terrific performance! ‘Come and see my World’ starts softly with a piano, fading in favour of a straight rhythm making this a danceable affair again. Special attention must be paid to the melodic synth work which at times feels to me like waves billowing back and forth radiating a sombre timbre, it’s ingenious. What could be better to end an album than the title track I get the feeling of lyrically crawling up a timeline with different stops on the way to the ultimate goal of mankind; cured from all diseases, no more wars with peace and harmony everywhere, ‘The State of Perfection’! There’s only one problem: It’s wishful thinking and won’t ever happen.

So, what am I supposed to say that I haven’t already let loose on you above? I know! Buy this album as soon as it hits stores, because it comes with good song writing production and most importantly good vocals. Three things that hardly come together as often as it would be necessary in many cases.