Android Lust - The Dividing

Release Date: October 2002
Genre: Electro/Unique
Similar Artist(s): Hard Electro version of Die Form
Members:
Shikhee - Vocals, keys
Christopher Jon - drums, keys, backing vox
TrevorG - Keys, bass, guitar

Where to start on the CD I have given title as Best CD of 2002.

The quick bio for those of you who have been hiding in the dark too long. Android Lust was formed in 1995 in New Jersey. Combining some great talents and ideas they managed to incorporate everything from industrial, classical, contemporary and gothic styles all into this little package. This is their third full length album to date and a follow up to the EP released the previous year at the same time. This just goes to show the amount of work and time spent on perfecting the CD of 2002!

Well for starters it definitely was a late comer but highly anticipated after the EP The Want. This EP brought a renewed excitement for Android Lust after a fairly long hiatus. This was to set the mood for things to come. Android Lust has been one of the bands that, no matter where it's played or when, a majority of the crowd can relate to both the emotion brought forth from the music and the raw power it creates in each of us.

This full length album is absolutely the best work Shikhee and crew has done to date. Why do I say this? Asides from having an extremely talented keyboardist (look up I, Parasite aka Christopher Jon), Android Lust manages to continue their personal growth as a band while staying fresh in sound and creativity. This innovativeness adds something that a majority of bands cannot create effectively. The music itself as per usual with AL, incorporates a ton of new instruments, flutes, guitars, bass, and effects you will not have seen anywhere else.

The newly created ambience and direction I felt from the CD was of rebirth and hope. Maybe it's the lyrics themselves, maybe it's the emotion Shikhee strikes into you when singing. I've never been able to put my finger on pinpointing things for AL. This I consider a good thing... mostly because it allows me to put the CD on repeat for lengths at a time. On that note AL carries a talented female singer... something both male and female people groan about at length within the scene. Shikhee has worked hard I'm sure to perfect her use of effects/vocoder and good old wind to create different emotions/feelings and flow to the music.

With the exception of the mellow tease starting off The Dividing it jumps right into a very electro vocal orientated piece. The Dividing is balanced out quite well throughout the CD. This makes sure you listen right through to the end. Bar hits on the CD will include Kingdom of One, The Want (which has already shown it's a dance floor hit since the ep release) and Panic Wrought. Personally I'd like to see my favorite song receive a very warm welcome from the clubbers. Unbeliever I consider the best song on the albumn for a multitude of reasons. To me it carries all that is Android Lust within five and a half minutes. A wave of emotion, well written lyrics and Shikhees wonderful job on heart stopping vocals. Second place would have to be a tie between Kingdom of One and a song from the EP "Stained - Winter)"

All in all this is a fresh sound. A band with immense future potential on all works and growth and I wish them the best of luck on their work. I suggest everyone take some time to browse through a wonderfully put together website too. Videos/Discography/Bio/Info and much much more.

This whole CD cranked to max on any stereo should please most listeners. I wish I could say all. I hope everyone considers picking up a copy and giving it a listen. It's not a CD you'll regret buying.

www.androidlust.com ver 3.0

Written by: GenocideX