Labels: self released
Review by: Kunal Nandi
Tristan Shone is both author and punisher here. Punk rock’s Tetsuo, The Iron Man makes audio interfaces that actually make it difficult for him to perform (a piston-actuated “drum machine”, neck strapped contact mike vocalisers), the effort involved in the battle showing through as a form of performance art, physical discomfort manifested as emotional catharsis.
On record you miss the thrilling and amusing sight of a man surrounded by torture devices that turns the tables on the audience, unleashing the full power of a club’s sound system to resonate your bodies’ internal organs. What you do get is the layered subtlety of the distorted yet warm baths of drone and depth charge beats, this time round augmented by sung vocals which I reckon is a first for A&P and arpeggiated synths. “Enter This” for example is an anthemic, catchy pounder and might be the best thing he’s done. Take a deep dive into this weaponised Depeche Mode.