Pilote - Do It Now Man
(Domino)
In the 20th century, electronic music seemed like the awesome future--a
future of robot friends, brains in jars, and tin foil suits. The future,
having come and gone, however, has made electronic music like old sci-fi
movies: silly notions of what music would sound like.
Pilote makes electronic music. In an age, however, when we have lived
through glitch and IDM and crazy beep beep and all of that good, good
stuff that comes from lunatics in Germany, one needs more than
electronics. Pilote is quirky and fun, but is also familiar and
predictable. This is dance floor music.
Most of the tracks are quick, up- tempo numbers, with warm synths, and
regular beats. The songs are often off-beat enough, figuratively, to be
somewhat interesting: strange tones, bizarre juxtapositions. But this is
not really anything new. And the songs are rarely off-beat enough
literally to make for compelling listening outside of the club.
The highlight of the record is "The Dialogue," which contains an extended
excerpt from Hal Hartley's fantastic film "Trust." In addition to the
pleasure of hearing Hartley's words, the track is smooth and melodic, a
bit sad, like the lost characters who are speaking, and has a sentimental
emotionalism, like OMD. Given, however, that Pilote aims for the dance
floor, the musical elements are often overshadowed by the rhythms, which
are too relentless and regular--what the dance floor requires--to really
allow the feeling in the music to break free.
If you are interested in the music of the future, electronic music is not
the place to find it. The most accurate assessment of what the future of
music holds is contained in Rush's epic concept album 2112. So
tell your grandchildren to be on the lookout for the guerrilla rock
revolution.
|
