Diode Fetish
4 Song EP-CD
~reviewed by Xian

Getting CDs in the mail is nothing new to me.

Today I opened such a package to find that it carried yet an even smaller package within. Unwrapping that I found a glass bulb with all sorts of ornate wires running through it and the tip ending in a dramatic and darkened point. The base was a prickly gathering of wire tips, and on the side of the glass was an intricate sigil that read, "Diode Fetish."

"Cool," I exclaimed, twisting this neat little object around in my hands and adding it to my collection of odd bits of metal objcts and light bulbs and door knobs. (I'm such a packrat it's not even funny.) This group was already off to a fabulous start by cattering to my peculiar fascination (fetish) for strange doodads and otherwise weird looking crap.

I popped in the demo CD of four tracks. The first, "Secret Life", began with a simple cascading background and a delicate percussion line. The addition of a baroque melody soon followed with a grand amalgamation of carefully added tweaks and clips, a smooth synth line, increased complexity in the percussion and a booming, robotic voice. Soon a female voice, caressed by an undertone that vaguely sounded like violens ran through filtures, took over for the chorus lines. I found myself tapping along to this weird musical construct and a rush of pleasure ran through me that someone has provided me something not only unique in sound and style, but danceable and well done. This was an incredibly appropriate introduction to the project known as Diode Fetish and it surpassed my every expectation, providing a giddy grin at the delightful quirkiness of it all.

"Mask" continued with the robotic element, adding a kinkier, childlike and submissive quality. The female voice carried the entirety of the song on her own, save for the male voice's contributions to the chorus. She sang with a steadfast mechnical affectation to an equally cold tune, warmed only by the suggestive content and just tentatively so. Fun for the sheer dichotomy of it all. The third track, "Ipex" begins with a faster, danceable beat of 126 BPM. There are no weaving vocals this time. Instead we are subject to the careening of emphemeral samples over a subtle euphonic flux of beats and swaying melody that come together as an aesthetic whole. The fourth track, "Keevar," continues in much the same line as "Ipex," at a slightly slower rate. The overall feel of this demo is somewhat reminiscient of Die Form's style and Skinny Puppy's sense of composition. Strangely enough, I am even reminded of Pail and Xorcist.

My ears were instantaneously appeased by the delightful skill at which the tracks were produced and reading the artist bio, my eyes were equally excited to read that they are to be joining us southern california denizens when they move this summer. Their bio boasts a darkwave fetish performance of dominating beats and a MIDI light show and mentions that they are seeking venues and clubs to perform for in California. Adding these two tidbits together, I now have every intention of getting them to perform for one of the clubs I spin at, knowing that this would be an increadible act to witness.

Oh, the terrible anonymity! Introduced as Diode and Fetish, male and female respectively, there is no mention who they are. Only a few well angled pictures showing just enough that you might have an idea, but yet cannot quite make out enough details in the face to be sure. Yet, I have my own sneaking suspicions; from the quality of the material, the sound of the voices, the hairline, the move, and a certain mailing address. *g* My youth haunts me still. But I will keep my lips sealed for the time being. Your anonymity cannot be indefinately maintained!! I KNOW YOU!! :P

Track Listing:

01. Secret Life
02. Mask
03. Ipex
04. Keevar

Diode Fetish is Diode and Fetish.
Website - http://www.diodefetish.com, http://www.mp3.com/diodefetish
Email - diodefetish@hotmail.com

Diode Fetish is seeking proper label representation.