The pounding distorted bass and fuzzy synth shrieks opening
Jenocide’s Machines To Make Us Wet recall the sweaty genius of
her first EP. But three tracks in Nine Inch Nails-like staccato drum
beats introduce Jen Clarke’s haunting, subdued vocals, setting it apart
from your standard electronic dance album. From there, Clarke navigates
vocal history with PJ Harvey wails, Sleater-Kinney grit, Blondie rhymes
and a Morrissey-like croon atop changing electronic blips, bounce and
buzz. More than sass and distorted beats, Machines skews
preconceived notions of typical girls and riot grrrls alike, with an
offering as complex as contagiously fun.
This article appears in Sep 24-30, 2009.