Blaqk Audio "Cexcells"

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 15th, 2007 by George Koroneos

Blaqk Audio
Cexcells
Interscope

Ever since AFI made the leap from Nitro to the big leagues, the band has been tinkering with electronica. For the most part, the synth tracks have played second fiddle to the band’s bombastic punk riffs and melodic hardcore vocals. Vocalist Davey Havok can clearly sing, but the trappings of AFI forces them to stay at least mildly true to their punk roots. Enter Blaqk Audio, Havok’s side project with guitarist Jade Puget, a retro bleep-pop record that recalls tons of ’80s classics but still sounds like AFI.

True, no one can recreate Havok’s vocals and many punks have long considered AFI an acquired taste, but Blaqk Audio works on a couple of important levels. First, Cexcells is the best album Depeche Mode has made in years. The songs are catchy and have a groove that fans of pop, goth, and electroclash can easily latch on to. That said, the record is not dark. Sure, there are some slower tunes, but nothing that would make you fantasize about killing yourself. Second, hopefully Cexcells will let Havok and Puget release all their pent up techno lust and allow AFI to just stick to the rock.

In all honesty, fans of New Order, VNV Nation, and even Nine Inch Nails will love this record. The beats pound, and all the bleeps are bleeped and the boops are boped. Or whatever. It kind of reminds me of the old Ministry songs that you find on VH1 Classics at one in the morning. You spend the entire video pondering how the hell Al Jourgensen could have been so effeminate and cute, and find yourself humming the chorus. Same here, except I doubt AFI will ever write anything as classic as “Jesus Built My Hot Rod.”

Doesn’t Rock l Kinda Rocks l Rocks l Really Rocks

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