Motorpsycho - You Gotta Hang On To The Trip You're On...

Review of Demon Box
taken from the Italian magazine
RUMORE, #13 / March 1993.
English translation done by Sunchild, slightly reworked by the Lighthouse Girl.

Motorpsycho
Demon Box
(Voices of Wonder)

A couple of issues ago we were referring to the new Dinosaur JR album as a collection of songs to be considered absolutely 'classic'. By the way: this is one of the highest accolades that could be given to a rock band, because this means that the band has been able to overcome the time barriers and will not be forgotten in the years to come. 'What does this have to do with Motorpsycho?', you're saying.

It matters. Anyhow it serves to introduce the novices to this wonderful Norwegian band which, in its melodic approach undoubtedly starts from the territory of the semi-legendary J. Mascis combo. Mind you, we are not casually using the expression 'starts from'. In fact, the path that starts from this point continues and enters into unknown territories of unusual and terrifying beauty. These are territories where the crossover of styles dwells in the most strange and disquieting shapes.

Motorpsycho make melody using noise - and this is not a new thing - but, in their approach, they put as much music as they can. And it's music of the most diverse kinds.

Acoustic-rural suggestiveness alternating with ravaging industrial furies. You can find everything in the Motorpsycho magic pot: Pink Floyd traces distorted by Flaming Lips optics, grunge destructions, the most entrancing heavy riffs (songs like Feedtime or Demon Box), Husker Du's fascinating punk (Babylon); even northern folk (Waiting For The One) and Wagnerian metal excesses.

A wonderful album. With a certain propensity to 'narcolepsy' and at the same time with an unsupressed visionary urgency, Motorpsycho can be considered the unwritten hyphen between the best of Dinosaur JR and the best of Flaming Lips. Forgive me, but this is the more original thought I had. Surely, there's more, but I can't manage to explain in words.

In conclusion, some, let's say, critical note. Motorpsycho is the classic example of a band that would benefit from a major production. The Demon Box recording has a lack of bass and dynamic (usually more a defect of aging bands) and the vocals are not always at their best.

Details, we have to say. Immersed in the Great Northern solitude (a song like All Is Loneliness), Motorpsycho can become, if they want, the greatest crossover band that rock has seen in years. This monumental and pessimistic Demon Box showcases the height of their creativity; it's white rock at its best.

It will be very difficult to top.

Claudio Sorge


[record reviews: demon box]
	Motorpsycho Demon Box Review of Demon Box taken from the Italian magazine RUMORE, #13 / March 1993. English translation done by Sunchild, slightly reworked by the Lighthouse Girl. Motorpsycho Demon Box (Voices of Wonder) A couple of issues ago we were referring to the new Dinosaur JR album as a collection of songs to be considered absolutely 'classic'. By the way: this is one of the highest accolades that could be given to a rock band, because this means that the band has been able to overcome the time barriers and will not be forgotten in the years to come. 'What does this have to do with Motorpsycho?', you're saying. It matters. Anyhow it serves to introduce the novices to this wonderful Norwegian band which, in its melodic approach undoubtedly starts from the territory of the semi-legendary J. Mascis combo. Mind you, we are not casually using the expression 'starts from'. In fact, the path that starts from this point continues and enters into unknown territories of unusual and terrifying beauty. These are territories where the crossover of styles dwells in the most strange and disquieting shapes. Motorpsycho make melody using noise - and this is not a new thing - but, in their approach, they put as much music as they can. And it's music of the most diverse kinds. Acoustic-rural suggestiveness alternating with ravaging industrial furies. You can find everything in the Motorpsycho magic pot: Pink Floyd traces distorted by Flaming Lips optics, grunge destructions, the most entrancing heavy riffs (songs like Feedtime or Demon Box), Husker Du's fascinating punk (Babylon); even northern folk (Waiting For The One) and Wagnerian metal excesses. A wonderful album. With a certain propensity to 'narcolepsy' and at the same time with an unsupressed visionary urgency, Motorpsycho can be considered the unwritten hyphen between the best of Dinosaur JR and the best of Flaming Lips. Forgive me, but this is the more original thought I had. Surely, there's more, but I can't manage to explain in words. In conclusion, some, let's say, critical note. Motorpsycho is the classic example of a band that would benefit from a major production. The Demon Box recording has a lack of bass and dynamic (usually more a defect of aging bands) and the vocals are not always at their best. Details, we have to say. Immersed in the Great Northern solitude (a song like All Is Loneliness), Motorpsycho can become, if they want, the greatest crossover band that rock has seen in years. This monumental and pessimistic Demon Box showcases the height of their creativity; it's white rock at its best. It will be very difficult to top. Claudio Sorge Back to the Record Reviews page...