Hipnautica CD Release Party:

Hipnautica

Voodoo Velcro

Sleep Now Yes

Hipnautica had the cd release party at Elysium in Austin for the first of 4, 5 song cds last night. This first installment is called "Exile". Each cd is representative of an element, I believe Exile is fire.

The show:

This was a good freaking show. Very cool, very strong line up, and a really good representation of highly talented Gothic Industrial bands that exist now a days.

First up was Austin's "Sleep Now Yes". I had got there late, so I was only there for the last song, but from what I heard they are still a pro act. Take the coolest Industrial bands from the 80's, (Skinny Puppy, Cabaret Voltaire, Ministry, etc...) and this is what they would have evolved into if they didn't turn metal or lose a band member and get all techno-y non aggressive. I hear them and think: "Now this is industrial."

Next up was "VooDoo Velkro". A 4 piece act from Atlanta, with a Male and Female singer, a keyboard player, a drummer/percussionist and a guitarist. It IS techno, but it is dark gothic industrial influenced techno, with yelled slogan type singing throughout, and a bit more structure. They brought a crew with them from Atlanta and from the way they were dressed I came to realize that fashion-wise Austin is about 3 or 4 years behind (or we just have our own look?). Very high energy, it's always good to see a female singer that has some BALLS behind their singing and performance.

Hipnautica put on a sensual groove oriented mystical performance that changed the general feeling of the evening in a really good way. They took control of the stage, and dominated it with their powerful performance. Very sexy stuff. If there is a modern bacchanal orgy going on somewhere, this is the music playing in the background. Like "Eyes Wide Shut" but with just the cool people (Not with the obnoxious Tom Cruise stinking up the place...). Of course, no one was having sex in Elysium, but that was the general feeling they gave off. Hipnautica performs with an ever interchanging cast of performers, with Sky the male lead singer always remaining and directing everything. You walk away from a Hipnautica show feeling like you just saw Shakespeare in 5 acts.

CD Review: "Exile" by Hipnautica

I've listened to it once and already know it's going to get some heavy rotation in my cd collection. As I said above, it's very sensual groove oriented electronic Gothic Industrial music with a changing cast of singers and players that really keep it interesting for someone like me with a short attention span.

This one's got guitars! I was kind of surprised to see and hear that. Not just stuff in the background either, this is some well produced music, and it stands well. It has a great sense of aggression to it, while still keeping with it's sense of sensuality, something I think a lot of bands have a hard time doing (they trade one for the other).

I think my 2 favorites of this album is "Exile" and "Volatile". "Exile" for it's aggression and well produced electronics, and "Volatile" for the beautiful vocals of Xhi. Not to say that any of the tracks are any lesser to enjoy, quite the contrary, but these are the 2 that stand out upon first listen.

Sky, the main man of the band sings beautifully through the album. His voice reminds me faintly of the male singer of "Dead Can Dance", but a little more woeful, and a lot more interesting processed wise. That is to say he is not afraid to use some effects on the voice, which only make him sound more interesting. He has a strong voice, and he is a competent singer, so it is refreshing to hear that he is not afraid to tweek it, rather then just leave it dry like a lot of bands are doing now-a-days in this genre.

DJ's: Get this cd and play it. People will have a great time dancing to it and love you for it.