Creative Vandalism

Editorial Reviews
From URB Magazine
It's been almost 10 years on since I first heard Adam X's hard-as-nails techno in a field in Northern California, his DJing an adrenaline-rushing change from the usual San Francisco funkiness. While much has changed in the techno scene since then, Adam X's passion for the genre has not. Creative Vandalism is Adam's ode to his two loves, techno and graffiti, and while both art forms have advanced considerably in their time, you might not know it from this album - at least when it comes to techno. While solid, Creative Vandalism stubbornly sticks to the blueprints laid down in the early '90s and refuses to acknowledge techno's many growth spurts over the years.

"In the Dark of Night" kicks off the album and sets the tone with its traditional drum programming and looped, spoken vocals stating the title of the song. On track after track, toms fall just after kicks, basslines growl and rumble along as rough melodies creep. It's almost as if Adam pulled out Joey's Beltram's Vol. 1 and said, "This is how I shall do it."

It's when he veers from convention that things get really interesting. "I Am a Machine" is powerful electro and "Still Awake," with its rattling breaks and overloaded bass, creates a driving force to be reckoned with. However, too often the songs refuse to yield. It's well-produced stuff, but after more than a decade on the job, you expect a little more from Adam X.

Adam Douglas

Creative Vandalism,Adam X,Instinct Records,Club/Dance,Dance Music,Hardcore Techno,Pop,Techno

Creative Vandalism

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