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Chris and Cosey
Heartbeat


4.5
superb

Review

by Meatplow USER (111 Reviews)
November 22nd, 2009 | 7 replies


Release Date: 1981 | Tracklist


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.



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user ratings (6)
3.8
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
Meatplow
November 23rd 2009


5523 Comments


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKlghfuwMrQ

Put Yourself In Los Angeles

Roach
November 23rd 2009


2148 Comments


i didn't like throbbing gristle that much so idk if i will bother checking this out

Meatplow
November 23rd 2009


5523 Comments


what TG have you heard?

some of their stuff i'm not so keen on, I do like The Second Annual Report and 20 Jazz Funk Greats though

Roach
November 23rd 2009


2148 Comments


20 Jazz Funk Greats.

didn't really do anything for me

RobotFrank
November 23rd 2009


344 Comments


Just listened to most of this on YT, and while I'm a fan of industrial and especially synthpop, what I heard seemed to lack any kind of vocal hooks - which keeps me at bay w/a lot of industrial, unfortunately. I suck. Regardless, thanks for the learn.

Meatplow
November 23rd 2009


5523 Comments


Yeah, it's not vocal centered at all. Talking in terms of "hooks", i'm referring to melodic sections of the music most of the time.

I feel these are pretty strong, but synthpop is an acquired taste. Thanks for checking it out though.

Lord(e)Po)))ts
January 19th 2021


70256 Comments


proto-the knife



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