Joel Vandroogenbroeck – Biomechanoïd

Biomechanoid was a Joel Vandroogenbroeck project but it sounds nothing like Brainticket. The music was inspired by the paintings of H. R. Geiger. If you know the Swiss painter's work you'd expect this album to be rather dark, which it mostly is. The music is almost entirely electronic with occasional acoustic piano bits. The music is often more than a bit bizarre, sometimes reminiscent of Conrad Scnitzler's wilder works or perhaps Asmus Tietchens. At times you get the feeling of a science fiction B-movie soundtrack. Biomechanoid is deeply experimental stuff and definitely an acquired taste.

Vandroogenbroeck shares composition credit with Mac Prindy and Marc Monsen but it's unclear if either of the played on the album as there are no musical credits on the album sleeve. Biomechanoid was intended as a library album rather than for casual listening. The LP itself is fairly rare but does turn up on eBay and on sites specializing in used vinyl every once in a while. A number of mp3 sites on the web do offer it for download for a modest price.

Those who enjoy some of Vandroogenbroek's gentler releases for Coloursound, like the Meditations series, might not find this album to their taste. Those who like the more avant garde side of the European electronic music scene of the late '70s and early '80s might well enjoy adding Biomechanoid to their collection.

-Caitlyn Martin