steering clear of the mainstream
since 2001

june 2010

review
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info opinion

Pulby

"The Soundfreeze" CDEP

Dead Digital

Genres: techno, electro-pop

Dead Digital
PO Box 94
Manchester, England M19 3WY

Jun 8 - 14 2003

After treating us to a deliciously catchy techno-pop anthem on their debut split-7" with Primitive Painter (also on Dead Digital), I was only counting the days until Pulby's sophomore release was due out.  Sure enough, the time came for record number two, and alas we have their new 4-song EP.  Hooray.  Let's take it from the top.

Track one is "Seven Days in Space," a laidback, melodic techno groove that will chill you out effortlessly.  While it does have some vocals, they are downplayed - the whole thing kind of reminds me of certain Piano Magic material.  After "Seven Days..." comes the funky "Highlights," which is a very catchy electroni-fied pop number.  Then we jump into the suspenseful "Big White," which sounds like it belongs in an action film in one of those building-up-to-the-climax scenes that are done without sound effects or the actor's voices - just slickly dressed professionals (like bomb-planters or whatever) getting the job done while the music plays.  Yeah.  That incoherent description [poorly] expresses the exact essence of "Big White," which is made effective mainly because of its infectiously brooding guitarline.  The fourth and final track is "The End of the Soundfreeze," a short, blippy slab of electro.

All in all, this is a satisfying EP from a new up-and-comer on the scene.  Pulby's music belongs on a car commercial - and I mean that in a good way.

85%

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 4 songs, distributed by the label, released 2003]