Artist: Eat Static Album: Prepare Your Spirit

Year: 2000
Duration: 0:0-1

A Critical Review of the Album: Prepare Your Spirit by Eat Static

Eat Static has been around for more than two decades now, and during that period, they have consistently provided music that is both avant-garde and well-composed. The album Prepare Your Spirit is no exception. In fact, it's one of the most daring, captivating, and innovative works they have ever produced. This album has all the hallmarks of Eat Static innovation, from the complex rhythms and infectious melodies to the otherworldly soundscapes. That said, while there's a lot to love in this album, there are also some tracks that feel contrived and forced.

To fully appreciate Prepare Your Spirit, you have to understand the roots and evolution of the music. Eat Static is a British psychedelic trance act composed of Merv Pepler and Joie Hinton. Both have been involved in the music industry for decades now, with Pepler being a founding member of Ozric Tentacles and Hinton being an accomplished sound engineer for Pink Floyd's Pulse tour. Eat Static's music draws inspiration from diverse sources, including dub, techno, world music, and ambient.

Prepare Your Spirit is layered, complex, and beautifully produced. The album starts with 'Interceptor,' a driving and hypnotic track that sets the tone for the entire album. It's followed by 'Amoeba,' a sonic explosion of eclectic synth lines, Middle Eastern instruments, and polyrhythms that build an irresistible groove. 'In a World of Peace,' and 'Abnormal Interference' are both well thought out, with the former featuring lush soundscapes and serene vocals, while the latter being an upbeat, futuristic jam.

While the album is certainly an impressive feat, certain tracks like 'Indoctrinate' and 'In All Worlds' sound contrived and repetitive. For instance, 'Indoctrinate' sounds like a pastiche of Eat Static's signature sound with nothing particularly new or intriguing. The middle-eastern melody sounds cliche, and the backbeat is somewhat uninspired. 'In All Worlds,' on the other hand, incorporates spoken word samples and war-like beats, a combination that has been done many times before.

One of the most innovative parts of the album is how the duo seamlessly integrates disparate elements into a cohesive whole. For instance, in 'Contact,' they blend reggae-style beats, Indian-style vocals, and distorted synths to create a pulsating, multi-layered jam. 'Immaculate Manipulation' is a sonic triumph, with Pepler and Hinton weaving together tight, complex rhythms and soulful vocal samples into a mesmerizing soundscape.

The best tracks on the album are the ones that are not locked into a single groove and texture but instead present multiple moods and dynamics. For example, 'Kepler' creeps along with ominous bass-lines and staccato percussion before bursting into an ecstatic and chaotic finale. In 'Tangarine,' brilliantly crafted melodies appear and give the impression that they were always meant to be together, creating a sense of collective euphoria.

Prepare Your Spirit is a bold and confident statement from a group that has never rested on its laurels. The album showcases the best of Eat Static's unique sound while also pushing the boundaries of the genre. The album has some gems, like 'Immaculate Manipulation' and 'Contact,' that attest to the duo's innovative spirit. However, it also has some tracks that feel uninspired and redundant, like 'Indoctrinate.' Overall, Prepare Your Spirit is an excellent album that deserves to be heard by anyone who loves electronic music.

Prepare Your Spirit is a bold and confident statement from a group that has never rested on its laurels. The album showcases the best of Eat Static's unique sound while also pushing the boundaries of the genre. The album has some gems, like 'Immaculate Manipulation' and 'Contact,' that attest to the duo's innovative spirit. However, it also has some tracks that feel uninspired and redundant, like 'Indoctrinate.' Overall, Prepare Your Spirit is an excellent album that deserves to be heard by anyone who loves electronic music.