Review: 3AM - Transmissions

There seems to be a certain aptness to posting this review in the week after the untimely and tragic passing of Alan Vega. Suicide are possibly one of the most influential bands that 'underground' music has produced....the list of artists who cite Vega and Rev as influences is endless, but on top of the list is Chino Burga, who records under the 3AM banner. Like many people I first became aware of 3AM after the awesome split he did with Sula Bassana, and 'Transmissions' is an album I've had digitally for some time. I've eventually got my hands on the vinyl (courtesy of Lay Bare Recordings), and boy does it come alive in that format!!!.

Opener 'UHF' immediately sets Burga's stall out for all to see (or rather to hear)....machine gun programmmed beats, hypnotic drones and enough reverb to keep anyone happy. Straight away you can hear the distant remembered influences of Suicide (RIP Alan!) and The Sisters of Mercy. The guitars wallow in tremolo and sound reassuringly nostalgic whilst keeping that well honed cutting edge. 'Flying Low' reins in the beats, swapping Doktor Avalanche for The Jesus and Mary Chain but the reverb and drone are still present countering the open freedom of the lyrics (..."Can feel the wind, it sets me free") with a claustrophobic cocoon of sound and echo. 'Condor' continues the lyrical theme of freedom and open spaces and this time the music complements rather than counters. There is a definite twang to the guitar which one can't help but to hear and to envisage dusty, arid desertscapes...the drums have a shamanic, tribal feel to them that enhances the sun-baked vibes, but it is the guitar that is the star - Burga wrings out feeling and atmosphere to great effect - a paean to his Peruvian homeland. 'Rocks' is all attitude and cojones, with Burga sounding like a (more) pissed off Andrew Eldritch. The guitar spits out a balls-to-the-floor rock'n'roll riff backed by the ubiquitous drone and metronomic programmed beats...cracking stuff!

Side two opens with 'A Minute' and yet a another different side to Burga, this time the more brooding and introspective side....which fits it with the message of the song - the need to take a minute to stop, think and take a breath (or, as Burga says, "a stress pill"). There is an anger that bubbles away underneath this solemnity that, musically, gives the track an 'edge', an aspect of simmering discontent. 'Rock'n'Roll Radio' is a rollicking cry of despair about the parlous state of radio these days (I think we can all agree with that!). The drums revisit the scatter gun tempo of the album opener and the guitar positively spits venom over some majestic drones. The echo laden vocals add to the overarching feeling of the track, with Burga yet again channeling his inner Eldritch. 'Joy' is a bleaker affair all together.. a languid, melancholic track on which Burga uses the guitar almost as a second voice to convey his yearning and reminiscences. 'You're Never Gonna Bring Me Down' brings the album to a close in an optimistic and triumphant manner.....no matter what life may throw at him, nothings' gonna bring him down. The music matches this defiance brilliantly....beats, guitar, drones and vocals all coming together to make a glorious musical 'fuck you' to the world. It brings the album full circle and so almost brings 'closure' to things.

'Transmissions' is a spectacularly fine album...it throbs and shines and, above all, it is lyrically intelligent. The influence of Suicide, Sisters, Joy Division etc cannot be denied (Burga makes no secret of these influences) but he gives his own unique twist on things to make this album full of recognisable aspects but all put together to make a distinctly original 'whole'. The album balances the moods and vibes well, moving from the introspective to the venomous seamlessly, but always backed up with Burga's signature drones and drenching of reverb. Since I got this on vinyl it hasn't been off the turntable...it's that good! 'Transmissions' is available on vinyl from Lay Bare Recordings via their distributor Burning World REcords. The download is available from 3AM's Bandcamp page here.