Title: Medication for the Misinformed
Artist: Mindless Faith
Genre: Electronic Crossover
Release Date: 26th October 2007
Label: Dependent Records
Introduction
The American trio MINDLESS FAITH are no newcomers in the music biz. Their debut ‘The Silence’ was already released in 1996 on their own label AlterCulture Records. 4 years should pass before the successor ‘Manifest Destiny’ was released in 2000. The album received rave reviews from various magazines. In 2004 the band signed to the label Dependent Records after their song ‘Momentum’ which was featured on the Septic IV compilation received such great feedback and the same-titled album was released in September of the same year. Now, three years after this highly successful album, the project releases their new album ‘Medication for the Misinformed’ as one of the last releases on the Dependent label.
Members
Exeris - production, keys, beats, gfx, samples, vox
Jasin - production, beats, keys, vox, guitar, gfx
MindCage - Additional Guitars
Website
http://www.mindlessfaith.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/mindlessfaith
Track Review
01. Bound - 5:38
We're all bound in one or another way. Whether it's because of decisions we once made, that turned out to be the wrong ones or our own expectations we can't catch up with in the end. They are sometimes like chains that prevent us from truly being free. Already the first song on the album breaks loose with sudden harshness. At first, tubby melodies and sounds that appear now and then cosy you along but then, without any warning, heavy distorted guitars enter the scene and pull you out of your lethargy. Don't you think it's already over...A pumping danceable industrial beat demands you to dance or at least nodding with your head and feet. A great fusion of industrial and rock elements.
02. A Blind Spot in every Eye – 3:55
“...there's a blind spot in every eye...” and that's totally right even though I’m not sure if it's the so called anatomical blind spot every human being has or if it's rather self-made. We tend to blind out things we don't wanna see or know, so the blind spot not only affects the eye in this particular case, it also expands to the mind, the ears and so on. Unpleasant truths usually have that effect. We don't wanna see, we don't wanna hear and of course don't wanna think about them because is much easier .What catches the eye immediately is the unusual rhythm of the track, that doesn't fit in the usual schemes but once you get used to it it's simply brilliant. The vocals are pretty processed with distortion, but are nevertheless clear to understand. In the back, during the chant you'll recognize almost gently played guitar chords. Over and over really harsh and distorted guitar parts were woven into the sound and it seems to me as if they're getting more and more aggressive, the further the song develops and you expect a breakout very soon but suddenly... a break the beats totally disappeared and spherical soundscapes spread a dense atmosphere. That's just the silence before the storm...
03. I'm pretty much fucked - 5:12
There are times in life, when everything's going wrong and you just can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. Hopelesness and awkwardness take control of your mind. Those are usually the times where a particular thought comes in mind 'I'm pretty much fucked'. After we took a journey into mere experimental rhythmic environments, we now switch back to a more club-friendly tune, starting out quite calm with almost inaudible synth layers and a pretty slow and tubby industrial beat. The melodic textures slowly get louder and louder and also small yet harsh guitar riffs appear. Before the mood changes from menacing to angry and a massive beats starts together with cutting, harsh guitar riffs. In-between breaks appear just like they wanted to give you a short break before hell breaks loose again.
04. The Dust of Centuries - 3:54
We're stuck between the times. With a glorious past in the back and an uncertain future ahead. Will it be a good one or will everything turn to dust and bury us under the dust of history. Right now I think it's the latter one and we're steering towards an inglorious end. Sometimes I think it's just a matter of time before someone pulls the red trigger and wipes the human race from the face of the earth. A noise fades in accompanied by abrupt chorals before a noisy break beat like rhythmic arrangements appears, so sharp that it cuts like a knife in your ears… only figuratively of course. In this chaos of noises and also harsh guitar riffs, strange voices suddenly reach your ear, which really sound creepy, just like an evil ghost that is haunting you. Don't give up too early on this track. It takes time to get into it but it's worth the effort.
05. Red Lines - 3:52
The lyrics sound to me like they're told from the perspective of a drug addict .The walls are slowly moving in on your or the ceiling seems to crush down every moment. Drugs can do terrible things to people and it only gets worse and worse the longer the addiction lasts. They're not able to fight the addiction on their own, but there's not always help. Some people reach the surface again but some others just die lonely and deserted because everyone gave up on them. After a noise appears and was slowly faded in a slower beat lots of noises starts. The guitars parts are heavily distorted, this time so they rather sound like noise. When the song gets close to its end, the rhythm changes and one after another layers disappear until you hear some silent drum patterns and piano chords which slowly fade until there's only one thing left...silence
06. Darkhall - 4:51
The title of this track confused me a little bit at first cause couldn't make a connection between the name and the song, but now I’ve got clearance. The track was called 'Darkhall' because of its rhythmic structure which is pretty unusual for an industrial track but typical for a style called 'Dancehall' which is a more electronic form of reggae. The vocal style changes a lot on this, it sounds like Jasyn spits you the words in your face like a machinegun underlined by cutting and processed guitar riffs. Female vocals also appear and at times they're sounding rather like an instrument than a voice.
07. Another Empire Falls - 2:26
This is a purely instrumental track. It starts out very calm but even at this early stage it builds up a menacing mood. The track gets more and more and more noisy and destructive until it reaches it's apex and suddenly deflates.
08. Down here - 6:40
Lyric-wise ‘Down here’ is about the catastrophes and complications we have to bear down here on earth. Some of those catastrophes are home-grown of course and we already saw some of the effects our acting has on the nature and now it strikes back. Tsunamis tear down everything or woods that almost completely burn out, but what happens in the aftermath... nothing. Atmospheric synths layers start the track before the heavy and fast machine gun beat descends upon you. Guitar riffs are milling into your auditory canals and push you further and further. It is definitely the fastest and one of the most sweat-inducing tracks on the album.
09. Tell - 4:54
You tell yourself over and over again, that things will get better someday, but you lost your faith already long ago. The track features very spare lyrics but regardless of that fact, they're very intense and show how the protagonist tries to cling to the illusion he created for himself even though he knows, that nothing will change and things will only get worse and worse. Maybe he needs to tell that to himself because it's the only thing that keeps him sane. This time we slow down a little bit. At First, you'll hear atmospheric textures, that lull you and then a halting rhythm created with steel drums joins in and the chant is started… after some time follows something that the guys seem to love...a break which mostly dominated by atmospheric strings which build up a menacing mood and various sounds appear. Slow but constantly noises fade in and get louder and louder before the beat starts again, but it has changed, the tempo is different and is more danceable than before.
10. The World behind the World - 3:55
A little break to calm down and a purely instrumental track. Ambient-like atmospheres adulate your eyes, but strange and disturbing noises always break through. A sample of a speech of a certain Sam Richards was also added to the track.
11. Independence Day - 5:09
Enough time to rest. The ‘Independence day’ starts through with full throttle. At the beginning there are those pumping beats sound very dull accompanied by sequencer lines, synth layers in the background and noisy effect layers on the drums. Suddenly the beat unfolds its true power and blows you out of your chair, in case you’re sitting on one. The vocals are clean this time but even without any effects on them, they're sounding pretty rough and dark. When the chorus starts, slicing guitar riffs blow up in your face, that it makes you feel giddy.
12. Bullet - 6:18
We live in times, where many wars take place. That can be a personal wars or countries that fight against each other. The middle east is a perfect example for that, but where do they get those weapons. The answer is simple. Governments do that. They only looking at the money and really don't care about the consequences of their doing. Doesn't matter if people die or not, the main-point is money. Ambient soundscapes and piano chords start the last track. Then a portentous and minatory string arrangement appears and before you know it, metallic industrial drum patterns hit you in the face. A remarkable thing about this song is the fact that it integrates sounds from the middle east and central Asia into its sound and even though it sounds a little bit strange at first, it is a nice addition to the track.
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 9
Sound: 9
Extras: -
Total: 9
Conclusion
This album has power no doubt about that. I was not quite sure if I would like the mixture of those die-hard slicing guitar riffs and industrial, but after a few spins this album captured me. There are lots of things to discover, but you have to give the album a little time to grow on you. Tracks like ‘Bound’ or ‘Independence Day’ are bursting with power and will make the hearts of those leap with joy who are more into the straight and club-oriented tunes. If you're more into the experimental and more complex tracks ‘A Blind spot in every Eye’ with it's unusual rhythm or ‘The Dust of centuries’ with it's noisy structures and haunting evil chants will surely please you. A big recommendation!!!
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