CD Reviews

Rinocerose

Schizophonia | V2

By MICHAEL FREEDBERG | August 1, 2006

4.0 Stars

Who would have expected, at this late date, to find a 1980s glam band with a feyish, Trent Reznor–influenced singer leading the action? Yet here it is, in 10 tracks (plus a live version of “Fucky Funky Music”) full of rave noise and vocal raunch (“Cubicle”), sexual demonics (“Pleasure and Pain,” “My Demons”), and catchy rhythmic hooks (“Fahr zur hölle”) that recall Giorgio Moroder and the Ramones, Italian disco and urban funk, the Velvet Underground and R. Kelly, Axl Rose (“Bitch”), and Sisters of Mercy (“Skin”). Recalled but not repeated: Rinocerose make their sources their own, with an intensity of voice, a clarity of tone, an orchestral magnificence, and a thematic virulence that are their own justification and summation. If others have done these bits before, none have done them all, or made them so ravishing. Rinocerose have been going since 1999, but in the US only dance-music adepts have paid any attention. Perhaps English-language rock isn’t yet finished after all. As it turns out, the band come from France (Montpellier, in the Midi), where rock and pop music still have oomph to spare.

Topics: CD Reviews , Entertainment, Music, Pop and Rock Music, More

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