Experimental edginess with mainstream appeal
Creepshow has a firm hold on its place among the greats of the electronic underground, with each of the artists in the group being veterans of their own right within electronic music. Their latest project, Mr. Dynamite pays homage to the legendary James Brown, and to the experimental electronic music scene.
Mr. Dynamite is a project that fully demonstrates why Creepshow has become a big name on the electronic music scene. The album uses experimental production techniques and plays with a variety of electronic sounds and synths, which at times seem simply random. Yet this does not take away from the fluidity of the project, which sits at only nine tracks in length. Each song on the album has its own sound and feel, and they manage to still remain fluid within the scope of the project.
There are also a number of lyrical contributions, which come as a pleasant surprise since in the beginning there are a number of vocal samples used, yet none are of a lyrical nature. At times it is difficult to tell which vocalist is singing since Creep Show has multiple vocalists on their roster, but nonetheless, the vocal contributions are simply amazing.
One standout track from the project is track four, “Endangered Species.” The song is a lot more melodic compared to the other opening tracks, and it also marks a recognizable shift in the project’s feel. While the dark electronic feel remains firmly in place, the electronic melodies and production techniques take on a much higher mainstream appeal. This track is also a breath of fresh air for fans who are into the mainstream industrial scene because this track fits perfectly into that niche. There are plenty of the industrial influences and even has a dark Europop feel to it. The drum patterns used on Mr. Dynamite work nicely with the melodies and samples used on the project.
Creepshow and its members have become veterans on the underground scene, using a lot of DIY production techniques and creating their own samples for various drum pattern construction. This helped create Mr. Dynamite, and gave it experimental edginess along with mainstream flair.