Chris Shape – Shaped To Deform (Album – Unknown Pleasures Records)
Genre/Influences: EBM, Minimal-Electro, Techno-Body.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Chris Shape is an Italian solo-project driven by Cristian Camporesi. This artist has already been active for numerous years and has been involved with different projects till he decided a few years ago now to release his work under Chris Shape moniker. In 2019 he released a phenomenal EP “Faked Truths” together with Dave Inox. “Shaped To Deform” is the artist’s debut album featuring thirteen songs.
Content: Chris Shape stands for pure Minimal-Electro music inspired by the power of 80s EBM and with a Techno touch on top. This guy composes his music with the magic of analogue machines. The solid bass lines and multiple effects are carried by danceable kicks while manipulated, fragmented vocals are emerging at the top. Nine songs from the tracklist have been achieved with the help of guests. HIV+, Alberto Frignani, IV Horsemen, Dave Inox, Black Asteroid, Raffaelle Venturelli, Velvet Kills and Blind Delon (2 songs) contributed to this work.
+ + + : It’s simply amazing to see how music inspired by retro influences and vintage equipment can create a futuristic sound. Chris Shape brings us back to the essence of good-old EBM; power and energy! But there’s this passion and love to compose intelligent music; a sound that has been composed with knowledge and not in a hurry. Songs driven by heavy, dry bass lines (sometimes reminding me of Front 242) and accomplished with great sound effects. I also like some passages creating a transcendental sensation, “Holy Ron”being an absolute masterpiece! The different featurings are simply outstanding.
– – – : There’s not one single song from this work to throw away!
Conclusion: “Shaped To Deform” sounds as a phenomenal production and definitely one of the best EBM productions from the past year! Respect!
Best songs: “Holy Ron”, “Near To Silence”, “Diss Out feat. Dave Inox”, “Mind feat. Blind Delon”, “Eat The Bankers feat. Black Asteroid”.
Rate: (9).
Artist: www.facebook.com/chrisshapeofficial
Label: www.unknown-pleasures-records.com / www.facebook.com/Unknown-Pleasures-Records-566180440115465
About Chris Shape
Chris Shape is the solo project of Italian producer Cristian Camporesi, who also records as ICN. Camporesi started out in new-wave electro bands before moving into techno music in the early 1990s through the Italian club Cocoricò. As Chris Shape he released the single “Eat The Bankers” in 2018 and the EP “Faked Truths” with Dave Inox in 2019, followed by the debut album “Shaped To Deform” on Unknown Pleasures Records in 2020 and the album “Head Against The Wall” in 2022.
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.
I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
