‘Music For Humans’ is a nine track CD E.P released on the emerging Mexican Electronic label ‘Pur Zynth’ (http://www.purzynth.com). The CD E.P came about through the appearance of the Empire State Human track ‘Night Flight’ on the A Different Drum compilation ‘Shadow Dancing – Volume 2’ and the reaction towards the track that came from Mexican DJ’s and clubs, which led to the Pur Zynth label approaching Empire State Human in regards of releasing an EP. In releasing the E.P it was decided to add the ‘Night Flight’ track with re-recorded vocals to simply bring the vocals on the track itself up to the same high standard of the remaining tracks on the E.P.
For me the best of the six new tracks on offer is the superb ‘Electric Audience’, complete with a bouncy Human League style bass and a very strong and catchy chorus, it’s a track that will no doubt receive considerable airplay in the right clubs. Following closely on from ‘Electric Audience’ is the equally excellent ‘Shoot The Breeze’, a track that’s clearly been heavily influenced by the Pet Shop Boys. Other excellent tracks include the mid-paced Kraftwerk style of ‘Down To Rio’, complete with sweeping synths across its chorus the track itself could almost be compared to ‘Night Flight’ while the more mid-paced ‘Scalper’ is another track of note.
Both ‘Das Kapitol’ & ‘The Plutocrats’ intentionally feature more minimal vocals; both are almost one step away from being instrumentals, especially ‘Das Kapitol’, a track that features a more Dance orientated sound and style while ‘The Plutocrats’, the stronger and better of the two tracks is a more up-tempo track, a track that Empire State Human have recorded for their next release, the ‘Alpha & Omega’ album.
A new vocal version of ‘Night Flight’ is included, the vocals have simply being re-recorded on better equipment in comparison to when the original recording was made, their fore bringing the track itself both up to date and more in line with the remainder of the tracks on the CD itself. The track itself remains one of their classic tracks.
‘Music For Humans’ also features two remixes; both of the tracks remixed are featured on the CD itself. The first is the opening track ‘Shoot The Breeze’ and the second is the new vocal version of ‘Night Flight’. The better of the two remixes is clearly the superb Nexus 8 version of ‘Night Flight. Its one of those odd remixes where musically it sounds nothing like the original, but what is here is an almost instrumental Future Pop style remix (very VNV Nation) with part of the (distance sounding) vocals occasionally added through out the track itself. As soon at the catchy synth riffs have set in the listener will have almost completely forgotten the fact that this is meant to be an Empire State Human track, only the brief and distance vocals give any indication of the tracks original origins. The other remix featured, the ‘Contemplate The Breeze Mix’ of ‘Shoot The Breeze’ is a light Industrial rhythm lead version that is clearly a more club orientated remix, but its main faults are both that its static, repetitive and over long.
A varied and (intentionally so) collection of tracks and styles that combine to produce another excellent release, least not for tracks like ‘Electric Audience’, ‘Shoot The Breeze’ & ‘Rio’.
RATING: 8
Artist Link: http://www.empirestatehuman.com
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