Front Line Assembly - Total Terror 1
Ok, let´s be honest here. Early FLA wasn´t technically brilliant like Front 242, nor mindbending experimental like Coil, not as brooding dark like the Klinik or having that madman edginess like Skinny Puppy or Ministry had. But for some strange reason, I keep returning to those early recordings like Total Terror 1 (& 2).
I don't know if you REALLY can call this "true" EBM (whatever that means), or electro-industrial?. Dark and retro-sounding synthesizer soundtrack-electro would be my definition. First of all, we have this cold simple sounding and repeated/looped Jarre/Kraftwerk´ish synth keys, electro-punk and break-dancing rhythms ála early Cabaret Voltaire/Portion Control, lush synth melodies like Theme For Great Cities by Simple Minds, charming nerdish movie-samples was taken from sci-fi/horror flicks with additional epic (almost classical) angelic choirs here and there. The first track Total Terror has a kind of mystery x-files vibe with its subversive synth and choirs-strings. Second track works around that futuristic and "high-tech" Theme For Great Cities idea. Developing Suicide almost works as a tribute to Cabaret Voltaire (Sensoria era). Next track Black Fluid offers a danceable Miami Vice´ish future theme. Best track on part 1 being the twelfth track called Freedom (corny right?), love the retro synthesizer melodies here!
I think in the shadow of styles like synth/retro-wave and the uprising interest in synth-music, it definitely (and still) stands the test of time. I have a feeling that in the coming future, we will see retro-wave artists harvesting ideas from stuff like this. The perfect solution to work around that Robocop themed album! EBM/Retro-fusion? Seeking more of this FLA-sound? Check up on releases made/released between 1986 and 1988 (and early Delirium of course), happy hunting!
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