Name: Trans X
Album: Message on the Radio
Year:1983
Style: Dance, Electronic, New Wave, Synth Pop
Similar Bands: New Order, Sparks, OMD, Lime, Devo, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Crash Course in Science
One Word Review: Nonstop Dancing Futureistic Computers
Based Out Of: Montreal, Ca
Label: Matra
Message on the Radio - Cover, Record
Message on the Radio - Back, Record
Message on the Radio (1983)- 3-D Dance 5:53
- Nitelife 7:15
- 21st Century 5:29 /
- Living on Video 5:52
- Message on the Radio 5:10
- Josee 5:46
- Digital World 3:34
Members & Other Bands:
`Pascal Languirand - Vox, All Instruments
`Anne Brosseau - Additional Personnel
`Chiffon - Additional Personnel
`Liz Tansey - Additional Personnel
`Linda Benoy - Additional Personnel
`Ian Lebofsky - Additional Personnel
`Steve Wyatt - Keys, Programming,
Laurie Ann Gill - Vox (Nudimension)
`Christian Traut - Art Direction
`Carmine Nicodemo - Exec Producer
`Dominique Nicodemo - Exec Producer
`Claude Allard - Mixing, Engineer
`Carole Arsenaul - Hair
`Daniel Poulin - Photography
`Michel Cloutier - Asst. Photography
`Lisa Fizzano - Make-Up
`Daniel Bernier - Prodcer
`Pierre Bernard - Programming
`Gaetan Desbiens - Recording
`Pierre Lacoste - Percussion, Drums (Isinglass)
`Guy Abrassart - Guitar
Unknown-ness: I've never heard of this band. But it looks like they are Canadian, which really does not mean anything for the style of music the album may contain. I like the angular basic shape artwork on the front, and the back looks like it might have disco elements. But from the album and band name, there might be some electronic elements.
Album Review: Apparently, this is the Canadian version of the album, as other versions around the world were retitled Living on Video, since it was the big international hit, even covered by many different bands. Pascal Languirand is the main force behind the band, controlling who is his partner, and deciding when the band is together and when it is on hiatus. The name is taken from the Kraftwerk song “Trans Europe Express.” There are two classic albums, before he retired the band, but picked it up at different times to release more albums under the name. He also recorded solo albums that are more ambient, space music in genre. I’m imagining Sparks and OMD teaming up to cover New Order songs.
“3-D Dance” was
the third single released by the band. It starts with a synthesized drum beat. Swooping
synth effects fly across the speakers and a fun bouncy synth hook starts
wiggling into your ears. It is dotted with OMD style synth notes. The vocals
start, and represent part disco, and part Sparks. The bass is driving and
thumping, augmented by the nervous keyboard sounds and pulsing synth beats. There
are female vocals exchanging lines in the first verse, and in the second verse,
digitized, deep monster vocals exchange lines with the lead. The song is like a
sped up, energetic version of Men W/O Hat’s “Safety Dance.”
“Nitelife” begins
with a dark, rumbling warning synth hook, reminding me of Crash Course in
Science. Then a keyboard alarming sound is added in, which reminds me of Martha
& the Muffins. The effects keep changing, and get squeaker and catchier.
The chorus is a call in response with the singer and himself, only a slightly
deeper pitch echos the original, Devo-ish call. Synth effects zig and zag,
creating a little jazzy section of the song, all the while the drums and dark
bass synth keep the tempo driving. It keeps coming back to the familiar elements
that are laid down in the beginning, just in continuous variation. By the end
of the song, the alarming keyboard sound warbles from left to right speaker.
“21st Century”
begins with a somewhat disco bass and hand clap-like percussion start. Then
with a genuine OMD twinkling keyboard melody, the upbeat song takes shape. Crystalline/angelic
hums fade in and out on rotation. The vocals sound quite excitable. The song
follows on this Sparks (vocal melodies) plays an OMD style song. It tends to
get a little tedious in its repetitive structure.
“Living on Video”
was their first, biggest single, covered by many and topping the charts in the
US and Europe on top of Canada. It starts off with a strong “Blue Monday” New
Order bass line, with crystal synth twinkles and space warp effects. Then
another OMD keyboard hook builds in to repeat, and the final hook is added, a
synthetic slide whistle is the best way to describe it. The vocals are all
quite calculated, and some are digitized and some have an alluring unisex tone.
Once the song breaks, the New Order bass line comes into full swing, and it is
wonderful. More space and digital effects are layered over, along with vocal
(some like Ladytron) cruising by. The song tears itself down, and builds itself
back up numerous times, and keeps coming back to the incredibly catchy
elements.
“Message on the
Radio” was also a single, and the album title for most of the world. Different
styles of digital hooks are used here, again, bringing OMD to mind, mostly. The
vocals again remind me of Sparks. The song is built on a standard template of
lyric-instrumental stanza on repeat until it reaches the chorus. The chorus is
a burst of excitable vocal energy. Halfway through the song, an instrumental
breakdown begins, with some sections experiencing a controlled breakdown, but
it always comes back to the main supportive hooks. The song fades out with the
energetic chorus in a fade.
“Josee” starts
with a bass and drum beat, and breathy, futuristic automated female vocal
samples. The song kicks in with another playful and upbeat OMD style synth
line. The lyrics have a big emotional exertion, again, similar to Sparks. Once
you make a connection, it is hard to shake it. The song sonds like a reprise on
a couple of songs that came before it. The breathy vocals play a much bigger
role here, for an instrumental breakdown, they speak over in a French(?)
accent, like they are speaking over a phone call. There is a bit of an
industrial effect breakdown, and some soaring electric guitar notes, and the
male Oh-whoa-oh-oh vocals perform a call and response with the female vocals.
The song returns to its previous structure, and plays out with the bouncy synth
effects carrying it through to the fade out
“Digital World” has
an anxious looping keyboard hook, accompanied with a drum machine tempo that is
steady feels like it is about to pick up. Drive-by zooming synth effects lift
off, and the song takes a leisurely futuristic drive, with a few vocal samples
that cruise by, lost in the song’s momentum. This instrumental song continues
with the nervous, driving synth tones, allowing the listener to visualize
passing through art deco-futuristic city-scapes. It feels like I should be
playing a game like Stun Runner.
Stand Out Track: Living on Video
Links:
Wiki
Discogs
Pascal Facebook
Akai Pro
Inner Edge Music Interview
Jorge Munnshe (Spanish)
Allmusic
Womex
Amazings
Golden 80's
Artists Worldwide
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