In In
1997 Swedish contemporary artist Tobias Bernstrup made himself a name on
the international art scene with his genre breaking mix of art and electronic
music. Dressed in elaborate costumes and androgynous make-up he became
known for his unmistakable stage persona with computer game-like musical
live performances inside major art galleries and museums worldwide.
2002 was the
breakthrough year for the now internationally established Swede as a recording
performance artist while living between New York and Stockholm. The album
Re-Animate Me and its 12" single "27 - Laser Mix" was on rotation at London's
hottest club Nag Nag Nag and DJ-Gilles notorious New York Decadanse party
and listed on Gigolo Records DJ Tommie Sunshine’s charts just to name a
few.
With Killing
Spree the synth pop/italo disco of Re-Animate Me has partly given way to
a heavier and fatter sound. "SUV" is a hit that mixes snappy synth basslines
with neo white funk slap basses and guitars. "Midnight In The City" is
a classic early 80s sounding synth pop track while "Surround" works as
a catchy EBM dance floor track. "You" is a dark, and melancholic Italo
Disco track in the spirit of Gazebo’s 80s hit I Like Chopin to be contrasted
by the upbeat "American Gothic" that blends hard electronic beats with
gothic guitars.
Taken as a whole
Killing Spree makes an excellent pop album both varied and coherent at
the same time. It blends electronica, classic synth pop melodies with dark
wave, all done with elegance Bernstrup takes his unique fusion of electronic
music and performance art to a new level.
As usual the
album is kind of hard to get hold of. it is only sold i selected museums,
art galleries and a few record stores. In other words for the aficionados
who wants to own a
piece of cult
music recording.
Verdict: 10 /
10
Review by
Lady
O 80s at Nov 1st - 2005 - 08:10 PM
