CD Review: Shock of Pleasure’s It’s About Time

by Chad Jones

Without a doubt, one of the most original bands in D-FW right now is the Shock of Pleasure.

Based out of Dallas, this electro-lounge quartet has a chilling sound, soothing when it needs to be and electric at the right places. Their music is as intriguing as their name suggests: a seductive, secret-agent sound that would undoubtedly make it into James Bond's iPod.

SOP released their first EP, This is a Test, last June, and their full album, It's About Time dropped back in September. Since then it's scored within the top tier on Good Records' Top 20 Weekly Best-Sellers multiple months in a row.

Genre labels do the Shock of Pleasure some justice but fit weirdly like my grandma's sweaters. While "electronica" is a catchall term for any and all electronic music, most electronica is more frenzied and layered than the softer sounds of SOP, which falls more along the lines of down-tempo. And yet, songs like "Tript," which are distinctly jazzy, aren't fully captured by this title nor the label "lounge" — which in my experience is too often lumped together in the minds of people with "elevator music" or "that crap you endure when you're out trying to get drunk."

Translation: they're a bit of both, but like all things, more than meets the eye ear.

The Shock of Pleasure was created in 2004 by singer/songwriter Robert Romano, who eventually amassed the current combo: veteran drummer Brent Irish, D-FW model and singer Kelley Christian on lead vocals, and Josh Curry on bass.

As I fawned before when reviewing the aforementioned EP, singer Kelley Christian's vocals are piercing, sultry and genuine. It's About Time begins with the track "This is a Test" for an obvious reason: its eerie build-up showcases the unique sound of her voice, making its sudden presence actual shock (bear with me). Granted, with all produced music and especially with that of the electronic persuasion, there are the expected layers of production here — but most supplement the sound (who doesn't love echoes?), and they ultimately emphasize an actual talent rather than concealing a weak one (ahem).

The fastest and jazziest of the album's sixteen-tracks is its second, entitled "Tript." The Shock of Pleasure whips out the woodwinds and brass, and the song stands out amongst the others as a perfect blend of the two genres (see above for annoying detail, and stop skimming). "Tript" also relies on what sound like actual drums (could be wrong), as opposed to SOP's mostly computer-generated beats, making the song a favorite for live performances.

"Spacetime" is another outstanding, cymbal-trickling track that has an ethereal, spacey feel to it. What? That sounds corny? Yeah, maybe a little. But blame SOP. One has to wonder if they name their songs after they conjure up its general sound. "Oh, hey, this one sounds kinda 'outer-worldly,' so, I'm thinking 'Spacetime.' Yeah? Either that or 'Spacalicious." Nevertheless, it's a swirling song, wherein Christian intones "lost in a galaxy far away as time stands still." It would do well with a laser light show, that's what I mean. UT Arlington pot smokers science enthusiasts, take notice.

Meanwhile, tracks like #8 in particular (and the whole album in general) — "Cruel & Unusual," — show SOP's admiration for and influence by groups like Portishead, known for pioneering their own subgenre, trip hop.

Half of It's About Time is original material, while the other eight are remixes or edits of the previous half. Amongst many other revisionists is the EDGE's DJ Merritt, who puts his spin on "This Is A Test" and "False Positive," two of the strongest and more unique renditions. This marks the second slice of attention for Shock of Pleasure from big names at 102.1 The EDGE; in September they performed live on Lex and Terry's morning show—after their song had favored well amongst listeners during L&T's regular screening/slamming of local music—complete with the customary amount of awkward ogling the DJs are known to be unable not to provide.

Though they've been "around" for a few years, the Shock of Pleasure is off to a great "start." It's About Time is a step above, quantity and quality wise, than their already promising EP. The unique sounds of electro-lounge are few and far-between in Dallas, but the Shock of Pleasure is opening that door, carving out their niche. It's about time.