Insiders will no doubt spot the subtle differences among Mortal, Fold Zandura, and this new outfit, Juggernautz, but casual listeners may simply just dig on more of Xhan's electronically enhanced rock-dance music. But even a novice can spot growth spurts here. "Pacificoaster" rolls with trip-hop percussion, while "Mandarin Sky" is a quiet meditation on loss, featuring an ambient musical rhythm underneath a gently methodical vocal. The hip-hop-y vocals on "Believing" and "Fury" also offer new wrinkles to the old fabric. But opener, "The Reach," has that unmistakable Richard Butler (remember the Psychedelic Furs?) rasp of a vocal, served over beeping synths and percussive guitars. Beneath the overwhelming crush of these soundscapes, it's sometimes easy to miss the equally bruising brunt of Xhan's lyrics. "Fury" speaks eloquently about the transforming power of the "Second Birth," describing it as a hurricane one moment, and an avalanche the next. He seems to say that such divine intervention must take on an aggressive tactic, as society has become increasingly numb from its multiple natural and unnatural disasters. "We rush headlong into the next sensation," he sings. "We're losing the feel for our turning world." Ultimately, Xhan doesn't really need a new band name. But the world will always benefit from his instinctive feel.
Editors' ratings - Doug 4/5, Jason 2.5/5
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth April 2002Reviewed by Shelby FosterTo call the publicity sheets accompanying this review copy misleading would be an understatement at best. "Think Prodigy. Think the Chemical Brothers. That's the neighborhood," it recklessly suggests. Jyro Xhan's new project sounds less like the United Kingdom's leading purveyors of dark electro-pop than it does to bands more familiar to the Christian bookshop browser's ear. Think The Echoing…Similar sounding releases
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