Dessau

Its sad that this artist is already long-forgotten for most. I for one still appreciate the beauty of their work especially their self-titled second album. Honestly, Exercise In Tension was simply that: an exercise; practice, for their next album that would be their masterpiece. I still revisit it often enough not to forget the feelings I had the first time I ever popped this disc into my player almost a decade ago. Generally regarded as a lesser Ministry, if Dessau had had as prolific a career and as many releases (and side-projects for that matter) as Ministry I could even say that I could find myself a bigger fan, but alas Dessau cut it short way too soon. They remain one of those "good ole industrial bands" from the 90s whose magic will never be recaptured in the future (at least I dont foresee it happening). Their cover of Joy Division's Isolation, in my opinion outdoes the original, as blasphemous as that may sound. Sun 90 is a song not to be missed for its anthemic beauty and rolling percussion; almost tribal.

Always with high production values and innovation despite being in amongst a huge mishmash of bands of similar subgenre (coldwave).

Also noteworthy was the brilliant songwriting. From Spinning On My Head: "Truth is beauty. Or ugly as you will. I am alone. I am. All I know.".

They are a band to go back and check out again, or for the first time for that matter in case you were too busy with your Ministry records back then to notice.