This is one of those albums we've all been looking forward to for years now! Although Crash Course In Science can be considered as one of the pioneers of electro / industrial (dance) music, it took time for this actual comeback album to come out. Already in 1979, Crash Course In Science was experimenting and with all kinds of electronics in order to compose songs which resulted in their first release, the more experimental sounding single 'Kitchen Motors / Cakes In The Home’. This was followed soon by a 12-inch vinyl bomb release in 1981 picked up worldwide and spun by DJs from all sides of the electro, techno and underground scene. If you have a nice vinyl collection, chances are the ‘Signal From Pier Thirteen’ 12” is somewhere in there.
However, it was not until 2011 the Near Marineland album came out. Although, in reality, it was an album that was intended to follow up their aforementioned maxi-single but was never released at that time due to circumstances. But today, six years later, it’s finally happening! And yes yes, it was worth the wait! Already from the start it's clear, Crash Course In Science is one of those blissful bands that you can not describe as "sounds like" but manage to keep their own style and sound. Maybe that’s why the 80s were so amazing? The times in which Shazam was not yet existent and would not have any purpose because you could still recognise every band according their own sound. But enough nostalgic bullshit!
Here is Situational Awareness! A bomb of an album! Ten killer tracks on which one can dance out gallons of sweat from the body without any problems. Danceable electro (pop) with a blissful industrial edge, perfect vocals and cunning lyrics. Some songs, like the opening track Some Change and So Pantsed have been tried out before on a live audience and swing like hell on those typical Crash Course In Science beats. Now, I can hear you thinking, has this album another potential hit like Cardboard Lamb or Flying Turns onboard? Hell Yeah! The Lightning is only one of those kind of tracks … goosebumps! And it has been a while since I felt that while listening to music! The perfectly matching and alternating voices of Michael Zodorozny and Andrea 'Enchantress of Bioluminosity' Beeman, Michael's squeaking, cracking and tearing analog toy synthesizers and the great production work of original 'Signals From Pier Thirteen' producer John Wicks make this album a true work of art! A piece of art that can be obtained on CD, digital and vinyl and deserves, without any doubt, the award of 'Album of the Year'! And oh, don’t forget to download the digital only remix of I’m Here To Tease too!