In 2015, Psycho Melodic Kill Switch released a wonderfully witty ode to a drug-addled Keith Richards, a tune that I lauded for its wry lyricism and bizarre presentation. I found the outfit itself to be equally compelling, championing freedom of speech in Saudi Arabia. As they say about themselves, and quite rightly so, “it doesn’t get more punk rock than that.” Their latest endeavor kicks down the doors of 2016 with the a new kind of presentation, but one that’s equally enjoyable. Let’s talk about ‘Electric Dreams.’
Out of the gate, ‘Electric Dreams’ exhibits what Psycho Melodic Kill Switch does so well: weirdly provocative lyricism that’s tactfully written. I don’t make this comparison lightly, but at times, the off-kilter vocal delivery and lyrical style is reminiscent of the late, great David Bowie’s experimentations. ‘Electric Dreams’ could easily be found on the cutting room floor of a ‘Ziggy Stardust’ session or one of the ‘Berlin’ trilogy albums. That’s a very high compliment.
‘Electric Dreams’ isn’t especially happy. Essentially, it’s the story of a woman, one who seems to be a robot or android, and her unfortunately morbid pursuit of love and companionship while trapped in some kind of machine. This is an idea that’s been flirted with a lot in the past; Bowie did it, and heck, directors like Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott infused it into their films in the 90s, too. Psycho Melodic Kill Switch takes it a step further, though, because the “electric dreams” the woman is experiencing are some form of purgatory – she was once alive.
Presentationally, ‘Electric Dreams’ is a well-suited for its lyricism. The monotone chant-like vocalism works in its favor, and the low-fi electric guitar hammering in the backdrop and sporadic samples are effective. Again, Psycho Melodic Kill Switch excels at being weird. That’s fantastic: we need acts like that. These fictionalized scenarios are built on human emotion, and one could argue the woman or robot in ‘Electric Dreams’ is just a metaphor for a variety of things – depression, anxiety, failed romance, you name it.
Thus, ‘Electric Dreams’ is very much worth checking out. Psycho Melodic Kill Switch has found their niche and they cater to it very well. They’re definitely one of the most interesting bands in the independent scene right now, and certainly the most interesting from their country or region.
By Brett Stewart
I’m a professional writer and editor, a journalism major, and I have extensive experience in musical review. I worked for two years as the Editor & Chief of an arts magazine, Strike Magazine, where I worked closely with writers and musicians. Through this, I was able to interact with dozens of acts including Heart, Holly Williams, Robert Cray, John Hiatt, and more. The magazine printed thousands of issues and was even recognized by Rolling Stone’s founder, Jann Wenner.
