Cybotron are Juan Atkins (electronics, vocals), Jon-5 (electric guitar) and 3070 (electronics, vocals). This was previously released as Enter (Fantasy 9625) in 1983 – but somehow this album did not take off until the song Clear was released and used world wide in clubs. Thus their album was renamed and repackaged (1990).
Their mix of early electronica and pop was the next logical progression from such pioneering artists as Kraftwerk and Jean Michel Jarre. The sounds and concept was the brain child of Juan Atkins who used basic mixing equipment (using the Mitsubishi X-80 tape recorder) to edit, master and produce this stripped down, bare electronic/synth orientated album.
The most well know song is the title track Clear. This is a beautifully constructed tune which exudes a feeling of uplifting confidence. The deep, dark, funky beats – enmeshed with electro synth vocals makes the track stand out head and shoulders above the rest of the songs in the album. The song makes you want to get down and do some serious break-dancing. Personally I would be attempting to do the ‘worm’ and ‘robot’ dance to this track. An excellent song - one of the classic electro break-dance tunes of the late 1980s/ early 1990s.
It is a shame that the rest of the songs in the album does not match the quality of Clear. Enter is a dark, moody song with melancholy vocals and wailing electronic guitars in the background - the marriage of synth effects and guitars go surprisingly well to project a moody backing track to the repetitive vocals. However, this pales in comparison to the opening track. I believe that the closing track, El Salvador, comes closest to emulating the quality of Clear. The combination of simple synth samples weavers a musical tapestry that is reminiscent of Kraftwerk’s well known songs ( Radioactivity, Autobahn, the Robots).
Don’t buy this album unless you are a die-hard electronica fan. Although it is a defining album that helped shape modern dance music there is a definite lack of quality songs. I would recommend readers to try and download the song Clear. That in my opinion is the best tune in the album. It is on a par with such great songs as ‘Egyptian Lover’s’ Egypt Egypt, ‘Hashim’s’ Al-Naafiysh [The Soul], ‘Newcleus’ Jam On It, ‘African Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force’s’ Renegades of Funk and ‘Herbie Hancock’s Rockit. Checkout these other songs – they are the pioneering tracks to the beginning of electro break-dance.
Tracklisting:
1. Clear
2. R-9
3. Cosmic Cars
4. Enter
5. Alleys of your Mind
6. Industrial Lies
7. The Line
8. Cosmic Raindance
9. El Salvador.