MEGADUMP FUTURA ALBUM ACCESSION RELEASE: JUNE 7, 2002 REVIEW: JULY 3, 2002

I was somewhat intrigued to hear this new work by O Müller, as his debut as Cyber Axis back in 1994 impressed me. "Futura" is highly polished with the breakdowns and incessant percussive work complimenting the solid programming nicely. Müller's vocals are quite... how shall we say, similar to those of Dennis Ostermann of In Strict Confidence and as a matter of course, the precise manner in which this album is executed really reminds me of ISC's "Love Kills!".
But enough overviewing, how does it sound when dissected track by track? I'll tell you what, after four or five songs, all the high-tech tricks and seamless electronics begin to numb one's mind. It might be that I've little use for this style any more as it gets lumped as "pop" music now instead of what it really is: techno music with catchy hooks. None of the songs go on past where they should and I am very appreciative to Megadump for not falling into the trap of so many other bands of feeling obligated to barrage a person with an endless stream of six-minute plus tracks (Front Line Assembly is very guilty of this). There are no long drawn out intro parts in any of these songs either, thankfully.
Megadump are quite competent players in the field of electro but I do wish they would have done more to break out of the shell which is "future pop"; implied by the title of this record. The anger is there, the relentless analogue basslines are there, there's even a bloody ballad but damnit all.... there is nothing new here.

PETER MARKS