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Archived Reviews
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System Syn, helmed by Clint Carney, is no stranger to electronic music. Not only is he a member of Imperative Reaction, but he also found acclaim for his other band, Fake. However, System Syn remains his first project, and with Postscript, he has created his best work to date. While Imperative Reaction leans toward aggressive industrial rock, and Fake seems homage to old-school electro, System Syn take elements of both and wraps them in a twine of futurepop and jaded EBM. The heavy thump of "Burning Out" leads one into this disc, as Clint Carney's defiant yet emotive sneer keeps pace with the rhythm. While melodic, waves of subtle vocal distortion, monk-like choirs, and alien machine chatter act as a backdrop that keeps the piece interesting and merely accent its anthemic tune. "I Never Was" is accented with aggressive snare-heavy percussion and pensive droplets of synth, but rapid arpeggios accelerate it into a catchy futurepop chorus. "Somewhere" rides on fuzzy chatter, a steady bass bounce, and the thrum of subtle chipper synthesisers, while the vocals capture a daydream in their optimistic tone. The dial of an unanswered phone chirps above a dismal sea of violins in "The Saddest Sound You", which compliments this ballad's lyrics as much as the sluggish clangs, dings, and static-laced rustles provide contrast. "Through This" utilises odd sounds again (an intro that sounds like a rat rustling in an air vent), but is rife with an insistent dance beat, sheet metal snares, a fuzzy answer machine mantra at its bridge, and rapid warbling synths that lighten the package. However, it is Carney's harmonic and driven chorus that truly shines in this sprinting electro piece. A final introspective moment is found in "If You Never Heal"; static zippers bristle out from the beat, but the centrepiece here is Carney's wavering voice and lyrics full of self-doubt. If comparisons to Ronan Harris of VNV Nation would occur, this would be the logical example. One surprising aspect that applies to this band is the fact that Postscript is their seventh album to date, yet only the second published by a label. This intense dedication to his work has finally been compensated, and while his other recent releases have been excellent, this one surpasses them by a landslide. |
