Tag Archives: recherche

Music Monitor (1994)

Review Source: Music Monitor, February 1994
Artist: Recherche’: (pre-t.o.t.s.)
Release: Thoughts from a raped soul…
Label: Facility Records

There is a change in the typical Norfolk post-grunge, post-classic rock scene with the industrial creation Recherche’. The 6-track EP, titled Thoughs from a raped soul…, encompasses a variety of musical tastes and influences from early Ministry to modern New Age. Thoughts . . . begins with “Insensate,” a gothic-toned, drumming chant of begging questions. What follows is a more upbeat and danceable “Subdued,” with driving, angry lyrics. “Liar” brings a triple voice overlay of hate backed by a driving, fierce beat. Thoughts . . . then moves away from its fierce discomfort to the almost playful “One Fly Song.” The techno beat, mixed with exploding sound effects, draw you into the pop sound of “Fetus 1.” “The Wait” closes the EP with powerful hypnotic water sounds and dark electronic poetry. A wide variety of influences and experimentation allows Recherche’ to create moods, not just change them.

— David S. Hewett

Mace & Crown (1994)

Review Source: Mace & Crown, March 1994
Artist: Recherche’: (pre-t.o.t.s.)
Release: Thoughts from a raped soul…
Label: Facility Records

Recherche’ gives industrial music its ability to rip the soul to shreds and fuse it together by the song’s close… hopefully. Thoughts from a raped soul… is Recherche’s debut album and another is in the works. Concert possibilities are still up in the air.

–Mike Carberry

Industrial Nation (1997)

Review Source: Industrial Nation, Issue 16
Artist: Recherche’ (pre-t.o.t.s.)
Release: Mettle
Label: Facility Records

Interesting release that goes all over the place. For instance, the opening track, “Pointing Fingers, Placing Blame,” starts out in a dark, quiet electro vein, introduces electric bass and guitar samples, then goes into a waltz time signature, and then back into a manic 4/4 floor smashing tempo. The other tracks sprawl across similarly vast territory. It’s nice to hear an electronic artist who works lots of changes into his music rather than hitting ‘loop’ on his sequencer. May be a bit too quirky for some, but those in search of fresh sounds could certainly do worse. . . .

-Shear

Industrial Nation (1996)

Review Source: Industrial Nation, Issue 15
Artist: Recherche’ (pre-t.o.t.s.)
Release: If I’m the Evil…Find the Evil in Me
Label: Facility Records

Drum machines accompanied by demon voice cries of hate, pondering what it all means through vocal outcry. Electronic organ chords progress through the sonic programming of this 5-song demo. The production is well done, with an interesting tape jacket and artwork.

— Dan Layne

Flash (1994)

Review Source: Flash, May 1994
Artist: Recherche’: (pre-t.o.t.s.)
Release: Thoughts from a raped soul…
Label: Facility Records

Industrial fans, a local ear has heard your beckon for a pumping irritated rhythm. Recherche’, a Dr. Frankenstein of industrial sound, has solely created the monster Thoughts from a raped soul… The title itself is a hint of what is to come. “Insensate” is an electronically heard brain wave. The steady rhythm that thumps out the dominant footsteps of a giant is encompassed by the torment of questions, “Can you hear me? Can you feel me? Do you hate what I say? Can you love me?” The powerful vibrations rumbling underneath lyrics of radiated unemotional uncertainty make the “fantastic voyage” into the unexplained mind of a rapist and the repercussions of its victim. A rolling thought that gains speed as it hits the valleys and slows as it hits the hills is a track called “Subdued.” “Subdued” uses the soul-grabbing sound of synthesized drums to accompany the Phantom of the Opera on the pipe organ. Not really, but one cannot help but visualize any better representative of evil charm than when experiencing the song. Thoughts from a raped soul… has validity as being a rare sound in Hampton Roads. Thus the aptly named “Recherche'”.

–Robin Wilkinson