PTI- Blackout

Artist: PTI
CD Title: Blackout
Label: WTII Records
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 5-22-05

PTI, the newest addition to the WTII Records roster, are firmly grounded in the classic EBM of bands like Nitzer Ebb and Skinny Puppy, and for the most part it works for them. On “Condemnation,” electro rhythms and synthesized strings create a background for shouted vocals distorted only by fury, while the speedy cyberpunk attitude of “Gone Silicon” shares early Front Line Assembly’s sense of musical urgency and themes of a dark, inhuman future. Unfortunately, PTI also reaches out to the current appetites for more pop-influenced fare, and this doesn’t work out nearly as well. The nasal vocals on “Vacant” detract from what would otherwise be a decent – if not outstanding – EBM track, while “Stargazer” is just a painfully retro imitation of early Depeche Mode. The beautiful production on instrumental track “Every Future’s Past,” which manages to blend drippy ambience with recorded whale song without sounding like New Age schlock, is proof enough that this duo has musical talent. If they stick to what they’re good at and ditch the occasional attempts to appease the Covenant and Apoptygma Berzerk audience, they’ll really have something to offer.

Visit PTI online at www.ptinc.net.