Pulse State - The Science of Despair

If hope had a beat, this is how it would roll. It's futurepop in all of its sparkling glory, glassy synths spiralling upwards in a shower of crystalline beauty. Yet if I'm going to compare this album to a shimmering lake, then it is only fair that I mention that it's a somewhat shallow one. In as much as I genuinely do like this album, there are certainly areas where it could be improved upon.

Pulse State is a project run by Mike Phipps out of Detroit, and he's produced various genres under this banner since the late 90's. This new release is a very dreamy, synthetic textured sound. The music is overlaid with Mike's echo laden vocals, which are delivered in an almost narrative style. In fact, the lyrics are often so descriptive that they defy many musical sensibilities, which can be a little off putting at times.

For me the highlight of this album is definitely "Little Strangeling", a very light hearted but catchy track that will evoke visions of VNV Nation from the first bar. The track "Flowers for Mankind" begins with great promise, with some lovely synth work leading us through a very compelling intro. At this point, however, it all falls apart as a jarring vocal line tarnishes the otherwise uplifting atmosphere. The final track on the disc is a reflective piece, "Distant Sea". It's whimsical no doubt, but like the rest of this album it's not bad at all, a journey that possibly could have gone further but has plenty of merit nonetheless.

My main concern with this album is that it just sounds too brittle. It lacks the sonic polish and lyrical grandeur that you would expect from any of the masters of the genre. I would like to see more chordal progressions, more multi layering, more conviction in the vocals. That being said, I can certainly see fans of acts such as Frozen Plasma or Cesium_137 enjoying it. The melodic content is good, the idea behind it all is solid. Taking this into consideration, I have every reason to believe that this project will go on to bigger and better things. I'll certainly be looking forward to listening. Oct 25 2012