Null Device – The Emerald Age (Album – Distortion Productions)
Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: This is the eighth official album by American trio Null Device. It’s their third album released on Distortion Productions.
Content: The sound universe of Null Device remains inspired by Electro-Pop. They achieved an interesting work which reminds me of bands like Beborn Beton and Mesh with bombastic arrangements on top. One of the (best) tracks sounds a bit different for being harder and into Techno-Body music.
+ + + : You rapidly hear this band is an experienced combo but the main strength is for sure the personal approach in sound. Even if passages remind me of aforementioned leading Electro-Pop formations, Null Device has something unpolished and ‘naughty-pop’ like on top. The work is diversified which is also an aspect you’ll find back in the male-female vocals. “Interrobang” is the most unique cut but the harder and darker Techno-Body style sounds irresistible.
– – – : I regret that the album only features 8 songs. The song “(Not) Sorry” sounds definitely mellifluous and isn’t the best exposure from “The Emerald Age”.
Conclusion: Definitely an Electro-Pop experience which sounds as an antithesis to all Depeche Mode clones. Nevertheless nothing groundbreaking but fully enjoyable.
Best songs: “Interrobang”, “Flags”, “Unsafe And Sound”.
Rate: 7.
Artist: www.nulldevice.com / www.facebook.com/NullDeviceMusic
Label: www.distortionprod.com / www.facebook.com/distortionproductions Read the news on ‘The Emerald Age’.
About Null Device
Null Device was founded in 1995 by Eric Oehler, William Annis, and Tom Lawrence, students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After Annis and Lawrence left the project, Eric Goedken became the band’s full-time lyricist and producer, and the sound moved toward a more straightforward synthpop direction. The band’s album chronology includes “The Year in Pixels” (1999), “Sublimation” (2002), “A Million Different Moments” (2004), “Excursions” (2007), “Suspending Belief” (2010), “While You Were Otherwise Engaged” (2013), “Perihelion” (2016), and “Line Of Sight” (2019). “The Emerald Age” followed in 2022 as the trio’s eighth official album and third release on Distortion Productions.
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