Altsounds - Jape - Ritual [album]

It's the repetitive trance part of electronic music that makes me hate it. When well done, it will suck you in no matter how hard you try to resist. If it's not well done, you start looking for sharp objects to jam into your eyes and ears. But when it rides the fence, it will make you fantasize about the various cinematic ways you could murder every single person in a dance club before being taken out in an epic sequence by a rogue break-dancing ninja no one could have predicted.

Jape takes me to that dark but amusing place. Trying to decide if it is any good is almost distracting enough to stop the repetitious droning from infiltrating the part of the brain that makes people think they can do the robot. Almost. Just as I thought I was about to stroke out, being stabbed repeatedly with invisible shards of electronica, 'Graveyard' kicks in to stop the bleeding and get me moving. Being followed by 'Phil Lynott' and 'Streetwise,' Jape walk their listeners to the edge of their creative cavern, allowing a peek inside, but never really invite you in. While clearly a talented group with a number truly innovative moments, the material on Ritual lacks the sparkle of last-ability.

The previously mentioned tracks and perhaps 'Strike Me Down' would make for good mixtape fodder, but do not inspire multiple listens of Ritual as a whole entity. There may be some quirky favorites for those who love the indie electronic genre, but overall, the record lacks flow with very high highs but some ankle-breaking missteps.

http://www.myspace.com/richiejape