Uran - Uran (2009)

Surprisingly effective debut from this Swedish band that combines violent, assaultive electronics with guitar, bass and drums. Raw and primitive, Uran transmits its hardcore aesthetic through a plethora of influences, including Kraftwerk, the Sex Pistols, Metal Urbain, Der Plan, Heldon and Atari Teenage Riot. Songs like “EMP,” “Mr. Piggy” and “Now Neverends” roar with the anarchic malevolence of a William Gibson-inspired cyberscape: a geometric edginess inspired by flashing neon, computer simulated skylines and Clockwork Orange stylized aural violence. There are only a few brief pauses in and among the thirteen tracks that allow the listener to catch his breath before another electronic onslaught slams your ears beyond the sonic threshold of pain—and even these Krautrock-influenced pieces (“Voice of Uran” and “Manslut”) still remind one of the electronic mayhem of Neu or Faust tied to the chainsaw drive of the Ramones at their most primeval. It’s a galvanizing trip guaranteed to rip your cortex to shreds. By Charles Van de Kree

I have to say this is for sure the strangest thing released on Sulatron records and the artwork is far out as well. There is basically no information about the band on the CD, and am pretty sure this is on purpose. Anyway, I can tell you that is very special hard driving psychedelic electronica. It features members of the Movements, First Band from Outer Space and some other Göteborg Sweden bands. The CD features 13 tracks in 42 minutes and it is pretty hard to describe this stuff. It is mostly fast paced, with programmed or very low fi drums, and a lot of different synthesizers just spacing out over the top of this hard driving bass rhythm. I will have to admit I really like this stuff a lot but I can see how it will be too much for many people. If you have a subwoofer, be careful as it has a dangerous low end….. Cool… By Scott Heller