Xordox is none other than J.G. Thirlwell, the mastermind behind the pioneering industrial project
Foetus (and all of its myriad variants), composer of music for the animated series The Venture Brothers in addition to other soundtracks, and collaborator with countless artists ranging from
Coil to
Zola Jesus. Unlike most of Thirlwell's undertakings,
Xordox is almost entirely focused on synthesizers. He recorded parts of this album at Stockholm's EMS studios, utilizing prestigious Buchla and Serge synthesizers. The music is vast and spacy, and every bit as ambitious as one would expect from Thirlwell, even without the presence of big-band horns, scraping strings, abrasive vocals, harsh guitars, or any other hallmarks of his many recordings. While
Neospection is notably closer to sounding like
Tangerine Dream than Thirlwell's typical output, it's still highly energetic and suspenseful, and entirely recognizable as his work. Tracks like the dramatic, electro-charged highlight "Corridor" could very easily be soundtracks to a thrilling sci-fi cartoon, and are loads of fun. On that song as well as "Alto Velocidad" and "Deep Shelter," Thirlwell is joined by Sarah Lipstate (
Noveller), whose eerie guitar textures add an extra dimension of excitement. "Alto Velocidad" is particularly bonkers, with flashy, heart-racing arpeggios that blast off into the stratosphere with Lipstate's help. "Destination: Infinity" seems like a darker, trippier take on
Kraftwerk's "Metropolis," with evil robot vocoders chanting the song's title over grim electronic pulsations. CD bonus track "Asteroid Dust" is a mini-epic unto itself, resembling a soundtrack for a much more solemn outer space exploration. Breathtaking and action-packed,
Neospection is an easy triumph. ~ Paul Simpson