Strobe lights, the thud of nearby speakers and sweaty bodies moving in sync – the ecstatic state of electronic dance clubs and the spirit of this album. He Closed His Eyes…, the new CD by former Winnipegger Bryce Kushnier, describes the scene which generates its music – the desire to subsume self to sound. Like much other computer-generated music, it is repetitive and primitive. After all, when one is in the mood for club music, a complex storyline becomes tedious. It reminds of New Order with seductive garnish from She Wants Revenge, but it lacks the depth these bands might offer. To be fair, this simplicity is charming at times, only it’s not enough to keep one captivated for an entire album. Because we expect little, given the appropriate context, we nevertheless find it perfectly euphoric. Experience it live on Friday, Oct. 16 at the Pyramid.

Published in Volume 64, Number 7 of The Uniter (October 15, 2009)