Forcefield - Roggabogga

RYAN:

Rarely do I see a record cover that actually seems appropriate for the music being held within. To me, this is a crucial part of a record. The cover helps to set the tone for what you are about to experience and can really bring a person in to the whole experience. This new Forcefield is a pretty good example of a successful cover. The entire front and inside are filled with Forcefield’s characters. The creepy sculptures staring at you from the artwork make for a perfect transition into the listening experience. Why? If you have seen these sculptures in person, you know that they are scary as hell. This cd sounds like a recording of a surveillance microphone in some Providence gallery where the sculptures reside. When the lights go out, and the doors of the gallery are locked…those fuckers come alive. I just know it, and this cd proves it. What you hear is track after track of gurgles and garbles, bleeps and squeaks…voices. While the music proves to be a bit on the spooky side, there is also a strangely serene quality to it. Depending on your stereo system, this cd has two faces. On Dare’s car’s system (not too great) the songs are harsh and noisy, more reminiscent of older Forcefield recordings that I have. On my home stereo though the songs, at times, sound a bit like those sharper image sleep/sound machines. The strange gurgles and garbles transform into babbling brooks, echoes and air. The cd becomes sort of peaceful in a strange way. Good speakers reveal the depth of the sounds, whereas crummier speakers tend to enhance the harsh highs.
The second half of the cd is strikingly different from the first, and I wonder if it should have been a second cd in a 2-disc set. Best I can tell, the second half is recorded live. It sounds like just that…live recordings.
While forcefield is not my favorite of favorites, this cd is strong and is a marked step in a good direction.


Listen up.