Search - Dance or Die :: Psychoburbia

Best of the Best EBM

Warren BONES | Sydney | 10/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dace or Die are to EBM/Electro-Industrial as Pet Shop Boys were to electro-pop - a cut above the rest and the standard by which all others are judged. For my money, this is their best album. It is full of great songs and is impeccably well made. These guys do their own thing, you won't find any cliched arrangements or the same sounds everyone else was using at the time. This gives them an always-fresh, original sound that is hard to categorise.

The songs are very accessible, particularly the title track, which opens the album, and the equally good Lugenbaron. Both of which are made for the dancefloor and work brilliantly. Around these gems are placed glittering motes of well-crafted music, most of which works well as part of the whole album, although Will of the Wind is probably the only other song that would stand alone.

Overall, this album has very few weaknesses. if I had to pick some negative, I'd agree with the last reviewer that it does tend to peter out at the end but that is almost a typical trait of this band.

If you enjoy this, all their albums are worth getting hold of. If you are just getting into EBM/Electro-industrial music, this should be on your must-buy list."

Classic Techno

Pecos Bill | Gaithersburg, MD United States | 09/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't know why this says "Various Artists". As far as I know, Dance or Die is the name of the group, though it might have been a 1-time collaboration. Anyway, the point is, all the songs on this CD appear to be by the same people, so it's not simply a random techno collection.



The title song, Psychoburbia, is fantastic. Grating male vocals, a quick beat, complex music, this is similiar to old school groups like Front 242 and Bi God 20.



Track 2-3 is actually "Will of the Wind", broken into two tracks (the internet database just has this CD titled *all* wrong) and is equally fantastic. Sort of a lengthy techno ballad with a good pace, great vocals and lyrics.



"Black Sabbath" is a cover of the real Black Sabbath, of course, and if anything, I like this version the best of all the covers I've heard. Gives it a little bit of an old school techno edge.



"Man Mind Machine" is slower paced, smooth lyrics, excellent vocals again.



"Escape" picks the pace back up, more good lyrics and good vocals. Whatever this group was, it's a real shame they only made one CD.



In truth, though, the CD kinda peters out after "Escape". "Right or Wrong" is good, but paced like "Man Mind Machine", almost ambient, but still with strong lyrics.





Anyway, I don't know how you might have stumbled onto this CD but it is one of the most awesome old school techno releases you'll find. Fans of original Front 242, Frontline Assembly, Bi God 20 and the like will not be disappointed here. If you can get a copy of it from here, I think you'll be well pleased.

"