Joel Vandroogenbroeck – Biomechanoïd

I recently bought via mail order a copy and unfortunately it was the silver pressing, not the black pressing. Seller thought I would be happy but I wasn't. Colored vinyl tend to get more surface noises and other issues while playing. That is a fact. It does not really matter if this is loud music but when it comes to more delicate sounds, like here, it can bother you. And it does here, pressing is by Optimal Media GmbH and I can say it is not very optimal... clearly not issue with audio master but audiple pop, crackles, hiss and heavy surface noises, plus the grooves avec very very thin. I got a black copy thenafter and it was much much better.

It gives me no pleasure to write this, but this pressing sounds quite bad: a lot of audible pop and crackle... a shame for such an amazing album.
Not sure if the culprit is the silver vinyl (which ittedly looks nice) or just a bad remaster/restoration job.
Does the black edition sound any better?

Biomechanoid was a Joel Vandroogenbroeck project but it sounds nothing like Brainticket. The music was inspired by the paintings of H. R. Geiger. If you know the Swiss painter's work you'd expect this album to be rather dark, which it mostly is. The music is almost entirely electronic with occasional acoustic piano bits. The music is often more than a bit bizarre, sometimes reminiscent of Conrad Scnitzler's wilder works or perhaps Asmus Tietchens. At times you get the feeling of a science fiction B-movie soundtrack. Biomechanoid is deeply experimental stuff and definitely an acquired taste.

Vandroogenbroeck shares composition credit with Mac Prindy and Marc Monsen but it's unclear if either of the played on the album as there are no musical credits on the album sleeve. Biomechanoid was intended as a library album rather than for casual listening. The LP itself is fairly rare but does turn up on eBay and on sites specializing in used vinyl every once in a while. A number of mp3 sites on the web do offer it for for a modest price.

Those who enjoy some of Vandroogenbroek's gentler releases for Coloursound, like the Meditations series, might not find this album to their taste. Those who like the more avant garde side of the European electronic music scene of the late '70s and early '80s might well enjoy adding Biomechanoid to their collection.

-Caitlyn Martin