Mindbender

Description

The self-titled, sole album by the American house/dance project Mindbender (Erin Fall and Psycho-Lizards, a.k.a. Johann Fontamillas & Wilson Peralta) was released on N*Soul Records/Velocity Music Group in 1995, distributed in the US by Diamante Music Group.

Way back in 1992, not long after Christian dance label Myx Records was launched by a certain Scott Blackwell, an album from pioneering rave team Jyradelix was released. A collaboration of the Psycho-Lizards (!) and dance/metal crossover group Mortal, Jyradelix thrilled with its uncompromising musical style and message. Half of what was the Psycho-Lizards, Johann Fontamillas and Wilson Peralta, later became the Mindbenders and now appear with their first full project, a high octane ambient techno album. Comparisons are easy to make with the recent N-Soul release from Virus. In fact, someone from N-Soul has described Mindbender as “Virus, only 10 steps on”, which is a good description I feel. The production is much better and the songs are a bit more coherent. Analogies end there though. This is a very stylised album, meaning that a wide range of feelings and thoughts are covered even though there are only eight tracks (plus two remixes). Highlights for me include the hardcore-influenced «I Believe» and the chilled-out «Daybreak» but the best has to be the wonderful «Resist», which is based around the phrase “I’m afraid I’ll succumb to it” and surprises in musical creativity. A great song, not to mention album, for alternative worshippers and dance buffs to explore. [Dave Drodge, Cross Rhythms, December 1995]

CD tracklist:

01. Ambien
02. Dreamin
03. Love U
04. Fearless
05. Resist
06. I Believe
07. …
08. Daybreak
09. Ambien (Buzz Mix)
10. Dreamin (In Your House Mix)

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by N*Soul Records.

A full-page advertisement for various Sanctified Dance releases on N-Soul Records, including the self-titled album by Mindbender, was featured in Syndicate Magazine No 42, Vol. 9, 1994.

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