Idiot Pilot – Strange We Should Meet Here

You know those CDs that you listen to, but you don’t quite know what you think about it? The CDs that when you play, you don’t know your feelings. Is it good? Is it bad? Maybe it’s just different. Idiot Pilot‘sStrange We Should Meet Here is a perfect example of that. After listening to the fourteen track album, your head will be spinning trying to put everything together and sort out your feelings on the album. But sadly, your brain will never been able to successfully decipher your thoughts for one straight forward answer.

Daniel Anderson and Michael Harris are both eighteen and straight out of Bellingham, Washington. They are the only people that form Idiot Pilot, the electronica hardcore rock band. The songs are recorded and mixed with a computer, and edited immensely. With distant, eerie vocals and atmospheric melodies flooded throughout until you are shocked into consciousness by Harris’ raspy screams. Oddly enough, the screams seem to fit within the soothing melodies. They are able to elevate the songs from something that will slowly put you to sleep to something that will kick you in the ass and wake you up screaming. The screams are the type of screams that most hardcore bands would kill to have. They sound good without being obnoxious or overbearing and just generally sound great. That’s what make the songs that much more interesting and re-awakens that sense of un-decidedness within the listener.

Behind the screams is the mess that makes this CD so unique. Its a mix of electronica with keyboards and pianos along with silky bass lines and obvious computer editing. Songs like Lucid, Arrhythmia, andLes Lumieres are smooth and calm – almost eerie in fact. While songs like Militance Prom break in with miny rap sessions interrupted by shouts of “Shut Up Mike!“.

For such a young duo, Strange We Should Meet Here shows some promise. It is, like I said, just plain weird and different; and unlike any other album you will have in your collection. Its definitely not a safe buy, but rather a risky one to pick up if you feel like something abnormal. Its not necessarily bad, but its definitely not that great either.