Out-Pop Options/Any Questions?
Multiphase, 2024
9/10
Listen to Out-Pop Options/Any Questions?
Here we’re treated to a pair of remastered albums from the ‘80s techno-pop outfit Delay Tactics, where their innovative, instrumental ways use looping, sampling and delay effects strategically.
“Yellow Samba” opens Out-Pop Options (1982) with Walter Whitney’s skilled synth amid Carl Weingarten’s meticulous guitar with a mesmerizing tone, and it isn’t long until Jim Mayer’s bass acrobatics populate the playful and rhythmic “On The Roll”.
Deeper into this portion, “Chasing Moroder” comes with a dance floor ready beat amid the soundbites and spacey ideas, while the previously unreleased “Initial Opus” unfolds across 12+ of dreamy beauty, distinct mystery and ambient waves.
Disc 2, Any Questions? (1984), leads with Mayer’s atypical bass and Whitney’s buzzing synth that take help from David Udell’s strong percussion across “Pterodactyl”, but it’s the soulful vocals via Joan Bouise that makes “Oysters” worth the price of admission.
Further into this album, “Fictionmusic” is a busy but precise display of jazz and prog-rock nods that you could never classify, and “Nuke The Beat”, a bonus track, blends the dense synth, curious programming and serious guitar shredding from Weingarten.
A band who were clearly ahead of their time, the ‘60s influences and techno exploration sounds great even today, and the 10 bonus tracks are nice addition to these seminal albums.
Travels well with: Carl Weingarten- The Simian River Collection 1980-2020; Delay Tactics- Elements Of Surprise