A Great Review by Virus Magazine!
SD6
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SD6: Between Noise And Transmission
Label: 23db Records
http://sd6online.com
http://myspace.com/sd6
SD6 is the latest recruit within the roster of 23 db Records, the
small-yet-growing label founded by Tom Shear, the mastermind behind
Assemblage 23. Even though this may be his new label project's debut,
"Between Noise And Transmission" has been in production for over four
years. After the demise of his previous project, Omnibox, head member
Brandon Jerwa went on to achieve some level of success in the comic
book industry, but it cannot be said his music suffered from a lack of
attention.
SD6's sound could be descibed as a mix of eighties-era new romanticism
and futurepop; comparisons to Shear's own work are unsurprisingly
obvious, but SD6 offer extra depth by evoking memories of the moody
synth ballads of mid-career Depeche Mode and other artists who used
electronic instrumentation for purposes other than dance music.
After an extended fade-in, "Fallen" thumps and clacks into life. With
an icy, anthemic synth alongside Jerwa's deep and dejected vocals
cannot help but summon salient comparisons to Shear's work. However,
these features are spliced with a snaggle-toothed breakbeat and bass
drum pulse, rendering it with a rhythmic aftertaste that is slight but
unexpected.
Sweetly militant, naïve soprano synths stab amidst a bass and snare
stomp in "Believe". Its light synth is oddly playful in light of its
stoic vocals and terse rhythms, a combination that is cute as it is
adamant. Though it is a peculiar juxtaposition, its chorus arrives to
deliver a harmonious alliance, as Jerwa's voice glides complimentary
to its crystalline arpeggio twinkle.
Finally, bristled intent is found within the terse rhythmic arpeggio
and snare crackle of "Free". Vaguely resembling that classic bass-line
from Front 242's "Headhunter", it is paired with half-spoken verses, a
stoic tenor chorus, and glossed with shiny synth highlights. It's an
peculiar blend of confident synthpop and raw threads of EBM, but it is
oddly captivating.
While Shear's influence is resonates throughout these previous pieces,
when SD6 eschew their dancefloor tendencies and delve into pensive
terrain, it is those moments wherein they deliver their best work.
The crisp trip-hop of "Untruth" features the vocals of Jerwa's partner
Jessica Blackshear. Highlighting her own prowess as a bluesy
chanteuse, her jaded swagger paints a velvet black tale of betrayal.
Instrumentally, its synths whistle arctic and its bass burbles deep,
while peals of snare word to keep this jaded piece from falling into a
bitter atmospheric funk.
Jerwa's own morose talents are also quite stunning, as proved by
"Nothing Now". Bass synth flows through it like a river of syrup, its
dark veneer peppered with bits of elastic drum pads and sharp snare,
its seductive rhythmic slither akin to that of late-nineties era
Depeche Mode. As fuzzy electronics buzz in like synthetic fireflies
and crickets, a ghostly shimmer of synth rises like a will o' the wisp
from this thick bog, its spectral wail evoking possible comparisons to
The Cure. Subtle and glumly picturesque, these elements are a terrific
nocturnal backdrop to Jerwa's dismal lyrics.
If this is their delayed efforts, it only leaves me wondering and
curious to sample what they're currently writing. "Between Noise And
Transmission", though its inspirations at times feel blatant, holds a
lot of promise. If SD6 manage to carve their own niche in the genre, I
suspect in retrospect this disc will be seen as one of those formative
speed-bumps in their career.
Vlad McNeally, 10 Feb 2007