4 out of 5

Label: Rephlex

Produced by: Cylob

Three vocoder-ed tracks.  Yes, the lyrics are a bit of a laugh, but the programming is undeniably catchy, and as the tracks bounce and pop three three-some minutes each, there’s plenty of inventiveness wriggling between the confines of what are otherwise dance-floor fodder (probably jokingly so, but whatever).  Even the implementation of the vocoder is amusing, with Chris Jeffs – or whoever, or a computer – expertly cueing just the right variations at just the right moments to keep the songs worthwhile for their runtime.  This was my first Cylob release, and I was definitely expecting IDMness from this Rephlexer, as I’d lucked into only IDM purchases on the label previously.  I didn’t get what I expected, and since my other owned Cylob album is Mood Bells, I have no idea what to expect.  Which is a better way to approach the label.  And so years later, listening to this, I can hear the composition smarts beneath the shiny exterior.  …And also just appreciate that these are danged catchy tracks, whether overly winky or not.