Digital Leather – Monologue / 2006 Empty / 13 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/digitalleather / http://www.shatteredrecords.net / Reviewed 03 August 2006

I honestly thought that this album would suck, and suck hard. But it doesn’t. Digital Leather is an electronic act that blends together all the different genres in electronic music to make something that is rich and compelling in a field rife with repetition and rip-offs. Where the first track is something that could be put on as individuals dance to it, “Machines” is a track that has a perfectly workable dance line with some of the most odd lyrics out there.

The “Hot Buttered Popcorn” sound of “Physical Man” disappears rapidly, with a very authoritative set of vocals and a cold instrumentation that is left. The use of the synthesizers during this track provide the only thing humans can curl up to; this is the first big hit for Digital Leather on a disc for of solid tracks. Digital Leather goes back to their experimental size with “He’s Minstrel”. This track has a quicker tempo, almost using a punk-like speed to create a tension in the disc that is just delightful when DL allows it to blow up. “Fantasy Boys” is the final track of the first “side” of this CD, and does not disappoint. The beat is again catchy as hell, while the vocals blend together Iggy Pop with Mick Jagger to create something that is easily the equivalent to any Dead or Alive or Soft Cell track. Digital Leather needs to be signed to a more major label. They are one of the few electronic-based acts that can actually go forth and create a full sound that never repeats itself. On “Monologue”, the band is able to dial into a style that allows hit after hit to be made. While I do not know if Digital Leather could cut disc after disc in this format, “Monologue” is a disc that is perfect in what it tries to do. I know that I would like to continue hearing Digital Leather in the future, and to see how they expand their sound from what is present on “Monologue”.

It takes a track, but Digital Leather’s next hit on “Monologue” is “Eyes of Rot”. The catchy chorus, plus distinctive arrangements make this a track that individuals cannot pass up. If you are a fan of electronic music at all, or even of gritty rock music (of which this disc has a ton of), Digital Leather’s “Monologue” should be on the required buying list.

Top Tracks: White, Eyes of Rot

Rating: 7.4/10

[JMcQ]