ALAN VEGA STATION ALBUM BLAST FIRST, MUTE, EMI RELEASE: MAY 9, 2007 REVIEW: JUNE 5, 2007

Although close to 60, there seems to be no stopping Alan Vega. On new solo album “Station” the sometime Suicide singer is as confrontational as ever, still playing the part of the anti-crooner pitted against a world decisively headed towards the apocalypse.

“Station” is low on melody, high on electronic squeals and dominated by various noises piercing both speakers and eardrums. It works better than it should be able to, the songs somehow gelling together despite being staticky, shuddering, ugly creatures. A lot of this is undoubtedly due to Vega’s voice, ever capable of capturing my attention with its delivery of paranoid polemics. This is, after all, a man who even made Pan Sonic sound lively on the terrific Vainio Väisänen Vega album collaboration ”Endless”.

KRISTOFFER NOHEDEN