Remote Control Frequencies - Tempus
Remote Control Frequencies - Wrong Planet
Remote Control Frequencies - A Million Miles
I’ve seen Chicago-based artist Remote Control Frequencies described as an “amoebic” music project, and I’d have to agree. The songs on Tempus have no definite shape, and there’s nothing striking about them. The lyrics are halfheartedly asserted, but you barely notice since everything is drowned out with reverb anyway. Breathy near wordless Shoegaze style vocals don’t accentuate hip-hop, a style predicated on language.
Each song is a beat and some synth with no padding on either side, as RCF doesn’t bother with intros or segues. The closest thing to a transition on Tempus is quickly abandoning a song by chopping up the rhythm to make it sound glitchy until it disappears. Considering nearly all the songs sound incredibly similar, maybe having transitions isn’t the point. Tempus is constructed like a concept album. RCF intended the subject matter to be centered around space, the unknown, paranoia, and social satire; unfortunately it is communicated with monotony and pseudo-intellectualism.
The album is supposedly trip-hop, but when I think of trip-hop, I’m reminded of Tricky (although he seems to despise the label). Tempus is too bland to compete with an album such as Blowback, and it’s accessible hip-hop element doesn’t begin to reach the same level of depth or richness of the Gorillaz’ Demon Days. In its more adventurous moments Tempus resembles a high school science project more than a scientific experiment in noise. It’s done objectively with very little enthusiasm, which is evident with painfully uninspired lyrics such as, “I wanna smash the system while you dance on the tables” or “put your thinking cap on, you could invent a new virus or a new vaccine.”
Tempus uses elements of shoegaze, trip-hop, funk, and reggae, but none of it really materializes into anything substantial. Instead, the styles seem imported and referential. It may be fun for stoners who occasionally read Stephen Hawking, but it’s too trivial for anyone else to understand its appeal.
Tags: Beck, Gorillaz, RCF, Remote Control Frequencies, Tricky
Can you elaborate on whether or not you liked the album? Your review was a little vague on how you felt about it.
Sorry, publius, but I didn’t think I was being too vague at all. I mean I always try to be as fair as I can, but in this case especially I thought it was clear that I didn’t like the album. I said it sounded very uninspired, trivial, not substantial, monotonous, etc., and therefore wouldn’t recommend it.
Yes I suppose in some small, slight and very subtle way you did communicate a modicum of distaste for the record. I think it seemed too subjective, though, I’m going to look up pseudo-intellectualism.
Oh well, maybe you just aren’t very good at reviewing records. You say every song sounds the same, however most reviews have said the exact opposite, that many of the songs are very different. Also, there are lots of intros and segues and it is ridiculous to say “every song is a beat and some synth with no padding”… did you even listen to the record?
The fact that you didn’t like the record is probably the most accurate part of your review.
If you think I’m misinformed or that my review is inaccurate, then by all means, just disregard it. But you can’t say I didn’t listen to the record, I listened to it all the way through many times…it kinda goes without saying, I have to do that with all the records I review. I’m as fair as I can be with every one of them while remaining honest.
Of course you’re not gonna agree with every single review, and not every single review is going to be positive. But I’m not trying to argue here, I think we should just agree to disagree.
[...] only ‘Shit sandwich.’ — RCF’s received the most unfavorable review on the ‘Have You Heard’ blog which is quoted as saying…“I’ve seen Chicago-based artist Remote Control [...]