MARTIN REV
Martin Rev (ROIR)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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It's easy to forget that this is a re-release of a 1979 recording and become impatient with the music. It was an experimental time for electronic music, after all, and Martin Rev was experimenting with his own vision at the same time he and Alan Vega were making historic music as Suicide. Suicide's music always seemed to be in flux, whereas Rev's often stayed on the same theme so long it became unnerving. Whether that was the plan or not, I don't know. Suicide's music was unnerving in a much more clever way, one that tempted you back for more listens, but with only a few exceptions, I can honestly say that I don't ever want to hear these songs again. Pieces of them remixed into other places, sure, because there are some clever sounds. I just don't like when clever turns to cleaver and chops and chops and chops into my brain, that's all. If I'm gonna go, I'll do it myself, which is why I prefer Suicide. Poor guy can't escape being compared. The truth is that what was great about his vision and talent helped make Suicide unique and endlessly fascinating, and what was overblown and annoying in his trick bag was apparently counteracted by the things that were great about Vega's vision and talent. One final note: The fans of 70s-era repetitive electronic tape loop music, those who don't mind when very little changes over a long stretch of time, may find this stunning.

© 2002 - DJ Johnson