| LIQUID IMAGE Self-Titled (CD-R) |
Every now and then a reviewer is faced with the unpleasant task of doling out blows from Ye August Critic's Paddle of Correction. Some take perverse glee in swinging said instrument; most of us reserve the Critical Spankings for those who can benefit from the experience. I believe that Atlanta's Liquid Image, a two-piece synthpop band with roots in the legendary Athens, Georgia scene, stand to gain from a stern talking-to. And so, before we begin discussing the merits of this production, let us pause to reflect upon the faults. The biggest mistake this duo makes is sending material which was recorded in January 1996 and January 1997. This CD-R consists of material which is around five years old, recorded while Brandon Greene and Mike Sidner were students at the University of Georgia. Greene and Sidner have been performing out for a good while now, and have played some decent-sized venues, like the Masquerade and the Point. I'm guessing that in five years they have grown considerably as musicians. Sending a reviewer a CD-R of material that's half a decade old is like showing up to a job interview in a wrinkled suit with five o'clock shadow. In their press kit, Liquid Image says they are "working on a new release." My serious advice would be: hold off on sending things out to reviewers until you have that new release in hand. That unpleasantness out of the way, let's get down to the business of examining the music. Track 1, "Intro" is an instrumental by Mike Sidner which segues into "Fade Within." Both are tuneful and atmospheric, showing a nice ear for melody and a feel for hooks. Sidner and Greene wear their influences on their sleeves - The Cure, Joy Division, Depeche Mode - but they seem to be having fun, and ultimately their enthusiasm is catching. On this track, and throughout this CD, Greene's vocals are good but not outstanding. If this CD had been recorded recently, I'd recommend a course of voice lessons: Greene can carry a tune, but on these songs he needs to work on projection and on gaining a bit more confidence as a singer. Five years have passed, though. At this stage Greene has probably improved dramatically live and in the studio. He may still want to consider voice lessons ... as should ANYBODY who wants to be a professional singer. Singing lessons can do more than improve your voice: they can help you avoid doing irreparable damage to your vocal chords. The third track, "Excuse for Today," is one of my favorites on this CD. It's got some nice guitar-bass interplay between Greene and Sidner and a relaxed, breezy pop feel which reminds me of great Athens indie bands like Pylon and the Squalls. I would be interested in seeing Liquid Image do more work in this direction: I find their guitar-driven pop more quirky and palatable than their more keyboard-heavy songs. "A Deeper Control" begins with a fat dance-floor friendly bass beat from Sidner, soon joined with Greene's vocals, mixed in the background ala Ian Curtis of Joy Division. Alas, they don't quite pull this one off. Curtis sounded anguished; Greene just sounds bored. A nice rhythm guitar line from Sidner almost saves "Drown," but again it's a case of aiming for grandeur and falling short. On "Slipped Away," Greene and Sidner exchange instruments; Sidner plays bass while Greene takes up the guitar. The result is a catchy garage rock tune with a synthpop/industrial dance beat. This is another promising track, and one which I suspect would come off well live. Synthpop is terribly hard to pull off in concert: how interesting can watching two men standing before keyboards and sampler banks be? Give a man a guitar, however, and before you know it you've got rock and roll on your hands. "Ashes," the closing ballad, has Greene's strongest vocal performance on the track. Over the ghostly echoes of a tinkling electronic piano, Greene sings of lost love. It's a nice ending to the CD, and one which promises better things to come. pxl, a side project started by one of the members of Liquid Image, has veered into experimental electronica and even trance. In 1998 Ryan McWorther contributed an interesting and critically acclaimed track, "Abdulmajid," to "Loving the Alien: Athens, Georgia Salutes David Bowie." I would be interested in hearing more of this, and I would like very much to hear some of Liquid Image's more recent work. This rough demo shows a promising duo which, with a lot of practice and experiencing, could someday rival that other "tacky little dance band" that came out of Athens, Georgia. 1) Intro Brandon Greene: vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass, drum programming PLAYERS ON THIS RECORDING: Recorded @ Resistance Project Studios, Athens, Georgia |