Reviews

Read the Review
Mngwa

Read the Review
Andrew Franey

Read the Review
The Shangs

Read the Review
Alex Cuba

Read the Review
Tri Nguyen

Read the Review
Defend The Rhino

Read the Review
Talltale

Read the Review
Kiwi Jr.

Read the Review
Plaster

Read the Review
Hyness

Read the Review
Black Suit Devil

Read the Review
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan

Read the Review
The Pack A.D.

Read the Review
Chad VanGaalen

Read the Review
Potengowski Anna Friederike

Read the Review
Todd Rundgren

Read the Review
Old 97's

Read the Review
Needles//Pins

Share |


Cover Art

Hypnotech 3 ( )

Prescription Electronics
Futur*Sonic ( )
Hypnotech 3's second official full-length, Prescription Electronics, cements the group's position as prime purveyors of retro/future mood music. Band members John Merrall and Mike Pawluk continue to make music that expresses their innermost tangerine dreams, with arrangements that prove less is more. As with their previous release, H3's songs seem to be frameworks for atmosphere; there is movement, but it is the movement of planets revolving, dead stars pulsing and comets swishing past in slow motion. The album evokes the eerie silence out outer space though its otherworldly tones and mesmerizing soundscapes. Of course, that could summarize the group's previous effort, too, so it should be made clear that there is also growth here. Prescription Electronics has more variance in sound (and even track length), more attention to percussion, and some different approaches (like a familiar CBC announcer's appearance on "For David Wisdom at 3 am"). Overall, Prescription Electronics is more upbeat than Hypnotech's debut, but it isn't as if they're gunning to fill the dance floor. While you could use the term "trance" to describe the listener's response, you can't use it to describe the music.

By James Hayashi-Tennant
Apr 25, 2004

[reviews home] [list reviews]
 
comments powered by Disqus

More Reviews By James Hayashi-Tennant

Cover Art A Northern Chorus
Bitter Hands Resign
(Sonic Unyon)
May 16, 2005
Cover Art Abk
Dirty History
(Psychopathic)
Sep 29, 2004
Cover Art Aereogramme
Seclusion
(Sonic Unyon)
Jun 23, 2006
Cover Art Akron/Family
Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free
(Dead Oceans)
May 18, 2009
Cover Art Alvin Lee
In Tennessee
(Rainman)
Oct 17, 2004
Cover ArtJason Anderson
The Wreath
(K Records)
Apr 17, 2005
Cover Art Architecture In Helsinki
Places Like This
(Polyvinyl)
Sep 14, 2007
Cover Art Armor For Sleep
What To Do When You Are Dead
(Equal Vision)
Apr 19, 2005
Cover Art At The Drive-In
This Station Is Non-Operational
(Fearless)
Nov 15, 2005
Cover ArtLaura Barrett
Earth Sciences
(Paper Bag)
Apr 29, 2008
Cover Art Berlin/The Fixx/The Motels
Greatest Hits
(Rainman)
Aug 29, 2004
Cover ArtThe Black Angels
Phosphene Dream
(Blue Horizon)
Sep 24, 2010
Cover Art Br. Danielson
Brother : Son
(Secretly Canadian)
Aug 29, 2004
Cover Art Castanets
Cathedral
(Asthmatic Kitty)
Nov 12, 2004
Cover Art Catfish Haven
Please Come Back
(Secretly Canadian)
Mar 10, 2006
Cover Art Centro-Matic
Love You Just The Same
(Misra)
Nov 9, 2003
Cover Art Centro-Matic
Flashes And Cables
(Misra)
Mar 14, 2004
Cover Art Cex
Starship Galactica
(Temporary Residence)
Apr 18, 2005
Cover Art Children Of Celebrities
We're Not Bitter
(Self-Released)
Sep 21, 2007
Cover ArtAnnabelle Chvostek
Resilience
(Mogv)
Dec 17, 2008
Cover Art Cinderpop
A Lesson In Science
(Popoganda)
Dec 17, 2008
Cover Art Colonel Claypool's Bucket Of Bernie Brains
The Big Eyeball In The Sky
(Prawn Song)
Oct 17, 2004
Cover Art Court And Spark
Witch Season
(Absolutely Kosher)
Aug 29, 2004
Cover Art Cursed
Two
(Goodfellow)
Apr 17, 2005
Cover Art Damon & Naomi
The Earth Is Blue
(Sonic Unyon)
May 16, 2005
Cover ArtKimya Dawson
Hidden Vagenda
(K Records)
Jan 17, 2005
Cover Art Destroyer Destroyer
Littered With Arrows
(Goodfellow)
Jul 31, 2007
Cover ArtThe Dirty Tricks
Sauve Qui Peut!
(Blue Skies Turn Black)
Sep 24, 2007
Cover Art Electroluminescent
Measures
(Black Mountain Music)
May 8, 2009
Cover ArtMyra Elford And Marty Ehrlich
Yet Can Spring
(Arabesque)
Sep 16, 2003
Cover Art Eluvium
Talk Amongst The Trees
(Temporary Residence)
May 16, 2005
Cover ArtAndre Ethier
With Christopher Sandes Featuring Pickles And Price
(Sonic Unyon)
Apr 25, 2004
Cover Art FFA Coffi Pawb
Am Byth
(Empyrean)
May 15, 2005
Cover Art Fol Chen
Part II: The New December
(Asthmatic Kitty)
Jun 22, 2010
Cover Art Frog Eyes
The Folded Palm
(Absolutely Kosher)
Sep 29, 2004
Cover ArtThe Fucking Wrath
Season Of Evil
(Goodfellow)
Aug 31, 2007
Cover Art Gang Gang Dance
Hillulah
(The Social Registry)
Nov 15, 2005
Cover Art Gentleman Reg
Darby And Joan
(Three Gut)
Jan 10, 2005
Cover ArtThe Ghost Is Dancing
Battles On
(Sonic Unyon)
May 8, 2009
Cover ArtThe Good Fight
Breathing Room
(Goodfellow)
Jun 17, 2004
Cover ArtThe I Spies
In The Night
(Self-Released)
Apr 29, 2008
Cover Art Insane Clown Posse
HellÂ’s Pit
(Psych-O-Path)
Oct 17, 2004
Cover Art Intronaut
Null
(Sonic Unyon)
Mar 10, 2006
Cover ArtJeremy Jay
A Place Where We Could Go
(K Records)
May 18, 2009
Cover Art Jefferson Starship
Deeper Space/Extra Virgin Sky
(Rainman)
Oct 17, 2004
Cover ArtWill Johnson
Vultures Await
(Misra)
Sep 29, 2004
Cover Art k-os
Joyful Rebellion
(Virgin)
Sep 29, 2004
Cover Art Kayo Dot
Blue Lambency Downward
(Hydra Head)
Dec 25, 2008
Cover Art Khan
Who Never Rests
(Tomlab)
Jul 3, 2007
Cover Art kila kila kila
ST
(Thrill Jockey)
May 3, 2004
Cover Art KK Null
Atomik Disorder
(Neurot)
Jan 29, 2004
Cover ArtJens Lekman
Maple Leaves
(Secretly Canadian)
Feb 18, 2004
Cover ArtJens Lekman
When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog
(Secretly Canadian)
Sep 29, 2004
Cover ArtJens Lekman
Oh You're So Silent Jens
(Secretly Canadian)
Mar 10, 2006
Cover Art Macha
Forget Tomorrow
(JetSet)
Aug 29, 2004
Cover ArtThe Magic Numbers
The Magic Numbers
(Heavenly)
Sep 5, 2005
Cover ArtAimee Mann
Bachelor #2
(SuperEgo)
Jul 30, 2001
Cover ArtEric Matthews
Six Kinds Of Passion Looking For An Exit
(Sonic Unyon)
May 16, 2005
Cover Art Meshuggah
Obzen
(Nuclear Blast)
Apr 29, 2008
Cover ArtThe Microphones
Live In Japan: February 19, 21, & 22
(K Records)
Mar 13, 2004
Cover Art Minus Story
No Rest For Ghosts
(Jagjaguwar)
Mar 10, 2006
Cover Art Mongrels
Oshawa
(Weird Beard)
Apr 29, 2008
Cover Art My Brightest Diamond
A Thousand Shark's Teeth
(Asthmatic Kitty)
Jul 14, 2008
Cover Art Nagisa Ni Te
Dream Sounds
(Sonic Unyon)
Apr 19, 2005
Cover ArtThe Nein
The Nein
(Sonic Unyon)
Oct 17, 2004
Cover ArtThe Nein
Wrath Of Circuits
(Sonic Unyon)
May 16, 2005
Cover Art Neptune
Gong Lake
(Radium)
Apr 29, 2008
Cover Art Neurosis
The Eye Of Every Storm
(Neurot)
Nov 13, 2004
Cover Art Of Montreal
False Priest
(Polyvinyl)
Sep 24, 2010
Cover Art Offsides
Foul Language
(Urbnet)
Oct 17, 2004
Cover Art Okkervil River
Black Sheep Boy Appendix
(Jagjaguwar)
Mar 10, 2006
Cover Art Okkervil River
The Stage Names
(Jagjaguwar)
Sep 28, 2007
Cover Art Old Time Relijun
Catharsis In Crisis
(K Records)
Nov 1, 2007
Cover Art Olivia Tremor Control
Music From The Unrealized Film Script, Dusk At Cubist Castle
(Cloud)
Mar 1, 2004
Cover Art Oneida
Secret Wars
(Three Gut)
Mar 13, 2004
Cover Art Oxes
Oxes
(Self-Released)
Sep 5, 2005
Cover Art Papa Roach
Getting Away With Murder
(Geffen)
Oct 17, 2004
Cover Art Part Chimp
Cup
(Monitor)
Jul 5, 2007
Cover Art Peter Wolf Crier
Inter-Be
(Jagjaguwar)
Jul 20, 2010
Cover Art Photon Band
Back Down To Earth
(Empyrean)
Mar 4, 2008
Cover Art Qua
Q&A
(Mush)
Jul 15, 2010
Cover Art Raising The Fawn
The North Sea
(Sonic Unyon)
Mar 7, 2004
Cover Art Raising The Fawn
The Maginot Line
(Sonic Unyon)
Jun 23, 2006
Cover Art Revolver
Turbulence
(Sextant)
Sep 5, 2005
Cover ArtRich Robinson
Paper
(Keyhole)
Nov 13, 2004
Cover ArtRich Robinson
Paper
(Keyhole)
Jan 17, 2005
Cover Art Rock Plaza Central
Are We Not Horses
(Yep Roc)
Jul 3, 2007
Cover Art Royal City
Little Heart's Ease
(Three Gut)
Aug 29, 2004
Cover Art Sea Snakes
Clear As Day, The Darkest Tools
(Three Gut)
Nov 13, 2004
Cover Art Sea Snakes
Clear As Day, The Darkest Tools
(Three Gut)
Jan 17, 2005
Cover Art Shalabi Effect
Pink Abyss
(Alien8)
Jan 31, 2004
Cover ArtThe Spirit That Guides Us
The Sand, The Barrier
(Goodfellow)
Apr 25, 2004
Cover ArtThe Spirit That Guides Us
The Sand, The Barrier
(Goodfellow)
Apr 25, 2004
Cover ArtThe Spirit That Guides Us
The Sand, The Barrier
(Goodfellow)
Apr 25, 2004
Cover Art Steppenwolf
LIve at 25: Silver Anniversary
(Rainman)
Aug 29, 2004
Cover ArtSufjan Stevens
Come On Feel The Illinoise
(Asthmatic Kitty)
Sep 5, 2005
Cover ArtSufjan Stevens
The Avalanche: Outtakes And Extras From The Illinois Album
(Asthmatic Kitty)
Aug 11, 2006
Cover ArtNikki Sudden
Treasure Island
(Secretly Canadian)
Jan 10, 2005
Cover Art Sunset Rubdown
Random Spirit Lover
(Jagjaguwar)
Sep 19, 2007
Cover Art Swan Lake
Enemy Mine
(Jagjaguwar)
May 8, 2009
Cover Art Swearing At Motorists
Last Night Becomes This Morning
(C-Side)
Mar 10, 2006
Cover Art Swell Maps
A Trip To Marineville
(Secretly Canadian)
Apr 17, 2005
Cover ArtRichard Swift
The Novelist/Working Without Effort
(Secretly Canadian)
Mar 10, 2006
Cover Art Taken
Between Two Unseens
(Goodfellow)
Aug 29, 2004
Cover ArtThe Tallest Man On Earth
The Wild Hunt
(Dead Oceans)
Jun 27, 2010
Cover Art Tanakh
Dieu Deuil
(Alien8)
Feb 2, 2004
Cover Art Tangiers
Never Bring You Pleasure
(Sonic Unyon)
Jun 17, 2004
Cover Art The Fixx
Want That Life
(Rainman)
Nov 13, 2004
Cover Art The Late BP Helium
Amok
(Orange Twin)
Nov 13, 2004
Cover Art Think About Life
Think About Life
(Alien8)
Jun 24, 2006
Cover Art To The Lions
Baptism Of Fire
(Goodfellow)
Sep 18, 2007
Cover Art Tsurubami
Gekkyukekkaichi
(Strange Attractors Audio House)
Nov 15, 2003
Cover ArtThe Twilight Singers
Powder Burns
(One Little Indian)
Jun 23, 2006
Cover ArtThe Unintended
The Unintended
(Blue Fog)
Jan 29, 2004
Cover ArtThe Unintended
The Unintended
(Blue Fog)
Jan 29, 2004
Cover ArtThe Unintended
The Unintended
(Blue Fog)
Jan 29, 2004
Cover ArtThe Unintended
The Unintended
(Blue Fog)
Jan 29, 2004
Cover ArtDavid Vandervelde
Waiting For The Sunrise
(Secretly Canadian)
Dec 25, 2008
Cover Art Various
Dimension Mix: A Tribute to Dimension 5 Records
(Eenie Meenie)
Nov 15, 2005
Cover Art Various
See You On The Moon! Songs For Kids Of All Ages
(Paper Bag)
Jun 23, 2006
Cover Art Various
See You On The Moon! Songs For Kids Of All Ages
(Paper Bag)
Aug 11, 2006
Cover Art Various
David Shrigley's Worried Noodles
(Tomlab)
Mar 1, 2008
Cover Art vitaminsforyou
The Legend Of Bird's Hill
(Intr_Version)
Jul 12, 2006
Cover ArtRick White
The Rick White Album
(Blue Fog)
Nov 15, 2005
Cover Art White Cowbell Oklahoma
Cencerro Blanco
(Slick Monkey)
Oct 17, 2004
Cover Art White Hinterland
Kairos
(Dead Oceans)
May 27, 2010
Cover Art Wild Strawberries
Deformative Years
(Self-Released)
Apr 17, 2005
Cover Art Wilderness
Wilderness
(Jagjaguwar)
Sep 5, 2005
Cover Art Wyrd Visions
Half-Eaten Guitar
(Blue Fog)
Jul 9, 2006
header bottom