INTELLECTOS MANIFESTO Vol.2

Electro Of All Countries, Unite!

Rather interesting line-up, with more countries represented than in UN Security Council, brings in fresh electronic thought from around the globe. One thing is indicative – whether you’re from Japan, Sweden, UK or USA, you belong to one big electronic family.
Intellectos Records' smart mix of new wave, electroclash, ambient, pop and ‘who knows what else’ truly represents underground electronic scene of today. And there might be the problem: will that music continue to be buried in rooms and basements of it’s creators or will inventiveness help pushing it to the light? My feelings are mixed; on one side, there’s unavoidable charm of careless approach and funny ideas ( ‘Amphibian Sex’ by Leg, with Kermit The Frog samples or Jonni Mogul ’s ‘Monkey Man’ with amusing rework of well known jungle song, to name a few), but there’s also lack of good production and skill to smooth the songs out. And that might prevent these projects to become more than a hobby for their makers and fun music for their friends. Lot of potential hits and, I dare to say, potential stars (if Fischerspooner can do it, why can’t we all?)...
Let’s take an example: Rockin Pony and their ambient track called ‘No Idea’: fantastic melody and excellent approach, but you’ll find segments that shouldn’t be there and choice of some instruments that is inconsistent with style of the track. And similar could be said for many other.Naming pluses and minuses for each of the 21 songs included on this compilation would be too much, so I’ll just conclude with this observation: some bands are excellent, some excellently terrible, others are not serious, but each and every track should be remixed/reproduced/polished. Then, some projects, like Tribeca (Sweden) for instance, could take off. Public wants new ideas, but also, spoiled by quality and glitter, demands more. And more has to be delivered.
Some bands really deserve to remain a passtime or a hobby, while others do have potential. What will happen to their careers, remains to be seen. Don’t expect much, because substantial funds, time and effort is required (apart from immense talent) for reaching the ‘acknowledged’ status. Could be that one of Manifestos will be the springboard for some band, and there are a couple on this volume that I’d love to see grow big and strong. ‘Work created a man’ and much more work might create a band out of projects presented. Ideas are there, at least.