74 minutes, 41 seconds

Angels & Agony
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Futurepop--industrial music's attempt to burrow its way back into the synthpop womb--really took off about seven or eight years ago with VNV Nation and Apoptygma Berzerk. (The Praise the Fallen and Welcome to Earth albums, respectively.) And maybe it came along at just the right time for a lot of people who'd grown a little bored with the distorted vocals and the dull, melody-free thud of most "industrial" music. This stuff had song structure, vocals that articulated hope and not despair, and clean-sounding arpeggiated synth lines. It was thoughtful dance music, and it continues to be popular.

But it's not as new as we think. Remember Prayer Tower? They were a one-album wonder back in 1993 on the late and lamented Third Mind label (once home to big names like Front Line Assembly and In the Nursery). But you don't even have to get that obscure--try X Marks the Pedwalk. Go back and listen to their later (mid-'90s) material. What were albums like Meshwork and Drawback if not futurepop? (Now, if only you could figure out what XMTP was singing about...)

Anyway, just wanted to give credit where it's due. Harumph.

Also today:

74:40 Severe Illusion, Accomplishments of Leopold II
74:39 Painbastard, No Need to Worry
74:38 Von Thronstahl, Re-Turn Your Revolt into Style