Sunday, June 10, 2007

CD Review: The Shock of Pleasure’s This is a Test - EP

By Chad Jones

I'm all for the fuzzy, artsy look, but the EP's cover does singer Kelley Christian little justice.

In anticipation of their forthcoming debut album, Dallas-based electro-lounge band The Shock of Pleasure has, since last year, offered two free, downloadable tracks via their website, www.shockofpleasure.com, as well as three streaming tracks from their MySpace.

But just last month, the up-and-coming trip-hop group released a full-on five-track EP entitled It’s About Time—a promising preview of what’s in store (and, in fact, will soon be in stores) later this summer.

For those unfamiliar, The Shock of Pleasure consists of guitarist and keyboardist Robert Romano, drummer Brent Irish, bassist Josh Curry and vocalist Kelley Christian, whose gorgeous voice (and all around physical gorgeousness) is the centerpiece around which all other pieces fall into place.

myspace.com/shockofpleasure

Ah, that's better. No offense, guys.

This isn't to say the music itself is secondary in any way (in fact, if they were to make an instrumental album, it would still be top-notch electronic goodness). Rather, Christian's vocals simply harmonize and synchronize the group's electronic rhythms, giving the Shock of Pleasure a sound that is crisp and cool, more jazzy than bit-popy, calm and electrifying and sophisticated. And while the previously-available song—including 'This is a Test'* and 'False Positive'—have received continued circulation in my iTunes player, my absolute favorite is 'Tript,' a catchy, fast-paced, mellifluous track peppered with brass fanfare and laced with soft keyboarding.

This is a Test – EP is currently available on iTunes for an easy five bucks—a price so low for such high quality local tunes that it’s a relative steal. Anyway, that's enough fawning for now; expect a full review later this summer when SoP releases their complete debut album, It’s About Time.

*their first single, which according to press material accompanying the EP, has been featured on ABC Family’s original series Wildfire. Kudos.

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