Auxiliary Control - Memories of You

This is a welcome addition to the DSBP roster - consisting of Level 2.0 vocalist Mike Hoffman (synths, programming), and David Swaine (Vocals), Auxiliary Control is a re-introduction to the values that made Futurepop much loved 10 years ago.

'Rage' is full of fantastic arps and trance -laden work that reminds me of Glis meets Lost Signal. Vocally, Swaine is as identifiable as any of his peers, and lyrically it fits into the Futurepop equation perfectly, however some of the material feels disjointed at times, or minimal. This may seem like a criticism, but for some reason I find the material to be wholly enjoyable, albeit occasionally eccentric.

'Memories of You' features among others; 'Tragic' - a track that can be considered a modern Futurepop milestone, 'Liquid State', a swirling ballad which carries the burden of deep thought and painful recollections, and 'Forever Lost' - a number which incorporates the unsettling aesthetic of Dark Ambient to create a soundscape that turns the song title into an aural way of life.

Like most things Mike Hoffman touches, this has a personal feel so poignant and intimate that it's hard to not get sucked into this dark corner of the EBM scene. David is a vocalist with potential and ability, and I feel that despite each of the 10 tracks on here being of repeatable quality, this act has their best days still to come.

Ideal for fans of Cut.Rate.Box, Cue to Recall, Glis, Colony 5, and of course, Level 2.0 Nov 06 2011