OK, here’s a little history lesson: KMFDM was a techno band for about 15 years. When the band broke up last year, two of the core members decided they weren’t done disturbing the world, so they formed MDFMK. Put that mirror down because yes, all they did was flip the letters around.
Now that you’re caught up, let’s take a little look at MDFMK’s debut. In some senses, it’s nothing more than Nails Inch Nine. Heavily dependent upon industrial sounds and beats, the disc drones through an angry whirlpool.
But it miraculously bursts free of that techno riptide to draw attention to their goal of adding a human element to a genre that could be produced solely on someone’s personal computer.
Lucia Cifarelli joins core-band members Sascha Konietzko and Tim Skold on his pounding, throbbing attempt to add a human element to techno.
Rather than depending upon pure noise to prove how “anti-establishment” they are, MDFMK laces lyrics and voice amidst a factory-decibel worthy backdrop. It’s a strategy Trent Reznor’s kids rode to fame in their “Head Like a Hole” days.
Adding Cifarelli, late of Drill, to the mix does bring a boost to what could have easily slipped into the cesspool of electronica. MDFMK boasts that they wanted to sweeten their industrial past, and their self-titled release does do just that, just like Reznor did in years past. Had this been a disc featuring Skold’s vocals alone, they’d have had to pay royalties to release it.
But what NIN lacked was that female touch. And that’s something that stands out on this disc.
“The future of music,” Konietzko notes, “must not belong to the mediocre.” Well, this band will be a part of the future then. Because this disc rises above the “C” level.
Lead track “Now” drops the listener into a maelstrom of melody. Skold’s voice grips the ear and drags it through a song wavering from somewhat soothing to kick-your-wall angry. “Don’t believe in anything new . Don’t believe that anything’s for real,” Skold croons.
The first release “Rabblerouser,” which has already gotten some radi play, continues with that hard-handed vibe. It’s more electronic than other tracks with a violently quicker pace. MDFMK continues with that vibe through tracks like “Get out of My Head,” “Gasoline,” “Stare at the Sun” and “Be Like Me.” Catching the troubling, brainwashing trend here?
MDFMK hits stride with “Control?” With an introduction befitting of a Techno Airlines takeoff, a hyper computerized beat throws a fit that intensifies by the moment. Then Skold jumps into the mess, lecturing about how “the revolution will be circumcised.” Take note parents, this is one to keep the kids away from.
What MDFMK does is nothing new. They’re basically just another angry, preaching techno band. Where they stand up, though, is that they sound better doing it than most others.
Rating: 2 1/2
Brian Hickey
