Electra-Kill- The Death of Venus 292

Artist: Electra-Kill
CD Title: The Death of Venus 292
Label: Addiction Records
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 10-20-05

The problem with French act Electra-Kill is that they’re not quite heavy enough to pull off industrial music convincingly and not quite sleazy or catchy enough to really make it onto the electroclash bandwagon. Although “Already Nothing” is pleasantly reminiscent of Ministry and “Smile” has some interestingly jittery keyboards going for it, most of the rest of this album comes off a bit halfhearted. With sleazy lyrics and archly off-key vocals that aim for androgynous sexuality but only achieve a sort of limp-wrist leadenness, you can tell the band is aiming for that decadently apathetic sound that Sheep On Drugs manage so effortlessly, but tracks like “Dirty Pretty Thing (Die the Morning After)” and title track “The Death of Venus 292” just come off as lazy imitations, while “Don’t You Try To Break My Heart” is just embarrassing glam rock with some distorted drum machines thrown in for club appeal. To give the band credit, there are very few bands that can pull this kind of thing off. Sheep On Drugs can do it. My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult can do it. Electra-Kill, unfortunately, don’t even come close.

Visit www.electra-kill.com for more information.