MONOFADER FROST ALBUM INFACTED RECORDINGS (EUROPE), METROPOLIS (USA) RELEASE: MAY 24, 2004 REVIEW: JUNE 23, 2004

Icon of Coil have decided to undertake a more back-to-basics EBM approach on their latest album "Machines Are Us" and the result was far from what has been accomplished by the band in the past. You might know now that I am an avid fan of the heavily criticized futurepop genre (there is lots of trash too, of course, but I love the idea behind it), so the fact that I like the first Icon of Coil album may not cause you to choke on your soy beans.
Monofader sets up a collaboration between Sebastian Komor of the above mentioned band and Spektralized's Richard Björklund (whose debut album "Elements of Truth" held great promise). This should virtually set me on fire, but I find that only a few tracks contain that magic futurepop bliss so evidently present in, for example, VNV Nation's "Beloved" or Apoptygma Berzerk's "Starsign". There is one track, though. One track that keeps sending me into orgasmic frenzy as its fantastic build-up bursts into a majestic chorus. "Behind", track nine. It is annoyingly better than all other songs on "Frost". Pretty formulaic futurepop, but with vocals and production on a superior level compared to many other, amateurish, bands in the genre.
A second album from Monofader could become a classic if focused correctly. The first one only hints at the greatness hidden within the band.

NIKLAS FORSBERG