Remote Control Frequencies - Tempus
jordan posted this review onJune 18th, 2008
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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.