Meat Beat Manifesto - At the Center

I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but the latest Meat Beat Manifesto album, At the Center is jazz. I know; I know, but seriously, it is. And I don’t really know how to feel about that. See, I’ve loved them since the days of their songs like “Genocide” (1990 Armed Audio Warfare), “Psyche Out” (1990 99%) and “Placebo” (1992 Satyricon). They started out really hard industrial, morphed into sort of psychedelic industrial, and now are just...jazz. When “Wild” opens the album, I was filled with anticipation. It felt like the song had to lead somewhere...somewhere good – somewhere great and strong and thumping and mindblowing. But it doesn't. It's a floutist/drumming orgy of fusion jazz that leads to a little organ and a little trumpet and an annoying woman telling me what time it will be at the tone. Why? Already I'm left feeling hungry for more. This certainly isn't a good sign. “Flute Thing” is a more mellow version of “Pot Sounds” (Satyricon), and while relaxing, is still not what I want from my Meat Beat. The list goes on. There's the bossa Nova “Want Ads One” that can't be made edgy by the bland reading of want ads by one Kenneth Rexroth, who sounds for the world like Dennis Hopper. While I'll admit it's moderately intriguing, it goes on too long and the interest turns into annoyance in quick fashion. There is a moment in “Blind” where I feel like maybe Jack Dangers didn't completely forget his core audience. Yes, it's still fusion, but there is an injection of the heavy trancy beat that I love so much in a lot of his music, and it gives me hope...but it's sadly short-lived. While I can and will acknowledge Meat Beat and Danger's talent, I am left knowing that although this is great retro-esque futuristic cocktail music, I'm not going to want to listen to At the Center very often, and probably not alone for pleasure. Background music, yes; music to live to, no. I wish I could stand behind this record; I really do, but I can't. It's a disappointment to me. But maybe that's because I'm just not willing to let them change. And besides, no one ever said change is always good...certainly not me anyway. [www.meatbeatmanifesto.com]