A review of Labyrinth, Juno Reactor's sixth album.
Juno Reactor - Labyrinth
Metropolis Records
Juno Reactor’s sixth album Labyrinth continues the world music fusion that is uniquely Ben Watkins. The new album contains two tracks from the Matrix film series, "Mona Lisa Overdrive" (named after the William Gibson novel) from the freeway chase scene in The Matrix Reloaded , and "Navras", a Juno reactor remix/reworking of the Don Davis composition "Neodämmerung" that appears on The Matrix Revolutions soundtrack..
With only nine tracks, Juno Reactor keeps with a history of albums that are short and to the punch. Watkins also continues his trend of collaboration, this time with artists that include guitarist Eduardo Niebla , vocalist Taz Alexander, and percussionists Maji Thobejane, Nick Burton, Greg Ellis; and of course Budgie, of Siouxsie and the Banshees, providing drums on the trip-hop/trance song "War Dogs".
The first track "Conquistadore I" opens with haunting tubular bells that set the deliciously moody scene for the lyrics that were selected from "Dies Irae", a mid 13th century Latin hymn from the Requiem Mass (a mass said for the repose of the dead). Niebla’s guitar and Alexander’s vocals form a romantic union that contrasts nicely with the EBM-driven madness that follows in "Conquistadore II".
On Labyrinth, where nearly every track is strong in one way or another, the highlight must be the song "Navras". Navras is a Hindu word that describes the experience which brings about the states of transcendental bliss. These nine states are Love, Humor, Pathos, Wrath, Heroism, Horror, Disgust, Supernaturalism, and Peace. The lyrics were taken from the Upanishads, ancient Hindu religious texts. Instrumentally, the song begins with a powerfully stated Orff-like choral verse backed by Russian- influenced orchestral work, followed by a Middle Eastern/Asian strain on the flute by Deepak Ram that provides an emotional reprieve before the epic finale.
Labyrinth is just more evidence that Juno Reactor is a band that is head shoulders above the seething mass of electronic composers on the scene today.
Juno Reactor official site: http://www.reactorleak.com
Metropolis Records: http://www.metropolis-records.com
See also Enigma, Deep Forest, and Dead Poets Society
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