Unelectric

Description

Unelectric is an acoustic compilation album by the American synthpop band Joy Electric, released on BEC Recordings in June 2000, a division of Tooth & Nail Records.The album was recorded and mixed by Bob Moon and Ronnie Martin with Martin producing. Written by Ronnie Martin who also provides vocals, piano, guitar, strings, beats and basslines. It mainly features acoustic versions of Joy Electric songs from previous albums, with the exception of “These Should Be The Good Times” and “Losing Touch With Everyone” which were new songs recorded only for Unelectric.

In a landslide victory, Joy Electric’s Ronnie Martin wins the Last Person Expected to Release an Unplugged Album trophy. «Monosynth» kicks things off, with acoustic piano replacing the Robot Rock track’s namesake instrument. With prominent acoustic guitar, «True Harmony» belies more of Martin’s New Order influence than the christiansongs original. Of two new compositions, «These Should be the Good Times» is particularly affecting, yearning to make the most of life’s fleeting moments.

Unelectric isn’t entirely unelectric; the programmed rhythms are still in place, joined on most tracks by synthy string swells and on others by the odd synthetic bass. The stripped-down arrangements spotlight Martin’s sometimes pitchy, helium voice and melodic efforts, revealing occasional limitations. Here, the chorus of «Disco for a Ride» sounds like dead ringer for «Monosynth», which precedes it by a mere two tracks. [Jeff Elbel, The Phantom Tollbooth, 06/29/2000]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/unelectric/724760867)

CD tracklist:

01. Monosynth
02. True Harmony
03. Disco For A Ride
04. These Should Be The Good Times
05. The Girl From Rosewood Lane
06. The North Sea
07. Sugar Rush
08. The Cobbler
09. Candy Cane Carriage
10. Losing Touch With Everyone