Album Review: †

French techno is a genre that screams annoying and pretentious. The name itself evokes images of bored looking people standing in a dank club, clutching half-finished cigarettes, listening to some repetitive beat interrupted with the occasional random hiccough in the sequence every hour or so. Music that is nothing close to danceable unless the listeners are under the influence of some illicit substances. And nothing you’d want to listen to outside of a dance club.

The French techo duo Justice obliterates any such notions. Having already found
success abroad with remixes and collaborations, the duo released its first album, comprised of both brand new material and previously released singles. The album is simply titled †, called Cross for those who don’t like using cryptic symbols. While some songs have biblically epic names, the music is definitely not some wimpy Christian rock. This is hardcore dance that will obliterate eardrums.

The album starts with the appropriately titled “Genesis,” a song that has a stuttering start, just enough to fill the dance floor, before it takes off. The rest of the album barely stops for rest, sequenced so that every song bleeds into the next, leaving 48 minutes straight of music. Highlights include “Let There Be Light,” “Phantom,” “Phantom Pt. II,” and “Stress.” “D.A.N.C.E” is the potential crossover hit of the record, being a tribute to Michael Jackson that sounds like a spiritual remix of a long lost Jackson 5 single.

Almost the entire album is instrumental, but the lack of vocals is to the records advantage. The sounds themselves are metallic, loud, driving, and energetic. Lyrics would only get in the way of the music. This becomes obvious on the one song with proper vocals, “Tthhee Ppaarrttyy,” which is the low point of the album. It drops the speed to a near halt, and includes some of the most benign rapping heard in ages.

The record soon recovers its energy, however, and powers on through the last few songs. It’s an exhilarating rush that will make anyone ready to dance, even those who don’t appreciate techno. While maybe not a religious experience, † is still a thrill.

4 out of 5