Manual

Like those that came before, Appliance proves that you can reinvent the wheel, and to good effect. Let's face it, there is little more to do in modern music that hasn't been done: we've taken electronic music to the planet's edge; we've composed chained melodies with the clanking of pipes and the roar of motors; we've heard the heaviest of metal and the twee-est of pop; we've combined rock with jazz, country and hip hop; we've reinvented punk with the so called "Grunge" aesthetic. Appliance envelopes the senses with the dissonant guitar noise and psychedelia of Sonic Youth and The Jesus & Mary Chain while keeping just left of the pop center with droning ambient soundscapes. This will be a group to watch as we head into the millenium.

After reading a short piece on Appliance in MAGNET, I decided to give them a try. It was agood choice. The songs are deliberate and patient, building on steady rhythms. Appliance handle repetition as deftly as Stereolab does. The washes of synth and subtle textures of their homemade devices are perfect additions to the clean, chugging guitar and bass rhythms. The vocals are somewhat detached, coldly and smoothly filtering through the music. A very satisfying listen.