M. Bryo & D.M.T. - Things I Was Due To Forget
Another interesting release from the French label Nuit et Brouillard. Things I Was Due To Forget with M. Bryo & D.M.T. So who is this, and what kind of album is this. It´s a sort of compilation album, collecting tracks mostly done by Mark Burghgraeve between 1979 and 2005, with additional musicians including Mark Verhaeghen(Klinik). It should also be noted that Mark Burghgraeve is also an old member of Klinik. Rumors have it that it was he who came up with the idea, about the Klinik-look. Long and black jackets with faces wrapped in bandages. Style? ... Experimental vintage synth-pop.
The album has come out both as a 2xLP vinyl and on CD as well. The CD which I have received to review, comes in a nifty-looking retro digipack design and it includes an informative 12-page booklet. 18 tracks, about 65 minutes in total.
The first track is called Shift. A harsh and mechanical analog drum pattern and various samples/recordings from a phone helpline. You can already hear the link to early Klinik and Absolute Body Control. The way the tension of clinical electronic sounds slowly builds up.
The second track DMT Street is on. Love the analog cyborg-sounding drum pattern with some very cool-sounding icy synths in the background as well. Excellent vocals here as well. Kind of reminds me of John Foxx, Fad Gadget, and early Depeche Mode. DMT Street sure sounds like an empty street, with lots of mood in it.
The third track Embryo, it gets a bit more weird. Kind of like Legendary Pink Dots when they do synth-pop. Weird and merry sort of circus feel here. Charming melody, weird electronic sounds, effective vocals... sounds really good.
The fourth track Things I was Due To Forget is where things get.. a bit more interesting. Incredible efficient minimalism, not that far away from the likes of Pyrolator, DAF, or Asmus Tietchens.Love the way the electronic sounds move in and out of focus, and it follows the thumping and dry drum pattern at the same time. Very hypnotic track!
We jump further into the excellent sixth track Let´s Go To War! Which in my opinion clearly sounds like the march/invasation of the Cybermen (From Dr. Who). A cold, calculated, and brutal piece. Analog synth sounds which sounds like a laser cannon, the high-hat sounds like steel being battered and the bass... well sounds like an electric current.
The seventh track The Lab, well sounds like a lab. One of those really weird ones that is. Filled with glasses containing various undefinable liquid materials, and unrecognizable pieces of machinery as well. A charming and weird piece of synth music here, with lots of charms!.
Essential and important to take notice of track number 9 called Relax. A touch of Richard H. Kirk and the solo works of Chris Carter. Highly mind-boggling rhythms and moods combined with human voices, breathing in and out and saying... relax! Again weird, funny, and incredibly intriguing!
The instrumental version of Things I Was Due To Forget is also worth mentioning, being track number 13. Proto-thumping techno stuff, fans of Cybertron do take notice here!
I do have a feeling that you have a feeling (or two) about this compilation album. It´s the essential, underground, limited, and underrated cult album for any synth-pop fan in my book. If you have all your early stuff from Mute Records, Ultravox, Numan, etc, etc, and you need something extra... look no further. M. Bryo & D.M.T will fix you right up!
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