Chris & Cosey is the work of Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti, a couple who are best known as two of the founding members of pioneering industrial act Throbbing Gristle who disbanded in 1981. Post-breakup they continued in many collaborations with artists from the scene and Cosey's own form of dadaist performance art, and formed their own project Chris & Cosey.
Heartbeat is their first release, which came out the same year.
This album bridges some of the earlier industrial sounds of Throbbing Gristle with a focus on a trend that was getting big around the turn of the 80's, synthpop.
Heartbeat could be considered a synthpop masterpiece. However, it is one with a slightly darker heart then most, but given the background of the two people behind it that is not surprising.
Put Yourself In Los Angeles sets the scene, with the swelling volume of a synth opening it. At the hit of snare, a dark, sinister rhythmic pattern hooks the listener in alongside an analogue drum machine and militaristic voice samples. It's a completely infectious song, and is a sign of things to come.
Just Like You,
Moorby,
This Is Me and
Pressure Drop share similar qualities, in that they are all based around simple constructions of melody and rhythm. These sound rather upbeat, almost cheery at times, which is almost at odds with stuff like
Radio Void,
Bust Stop and
Tight Fit which edge on dark ambient. These still manage to have strong hooks though, which is something this album is not short on.
Voodoo is an interesting, percussive experiment that could pass for an Autechre cut, and
Useless Information has a similar tone.
Heartbeat could be an a-ha backing track, whilst
Manic Melody is probably closer in spirit to the dark humour of early Foetus with it's cheesy, overblown samples.
Heartbeat is a great little album, a bit of a hidden gem for the industrial fans that is often glanced over. Whilst it lends itself more towards the realms of synthpop, its sound experiments and analogue drum machines are far from one dimensional and interesting enough to warrant a number of listens.
Put Yourself In Los Angeles is something that needs to be heard, at the very least.
