“Gettin’ High On Your Supply”

Apollo Four Forty

Many times a new kind of music works like a tapeworm — it begins on the outside and works its way to the inside.

Electronica has been sweeping across the east and west coast mainstreams over the last few years, but it wasn’t until a year or so after the breakthrough of Fatboy Slim’s “Rockafeller Skank” before it was near the top of request lists at dance parties across the Midwest.

Another electronica band that has begun to cyclone its way toward the center of the country is Apollo Four Forty, and “Gettin’ High On Your Own Supply” is a perfect example of how creative this music really is.

For the sake of categorization, Apollo Four Forty is electronica, but the mix of rock into the computerized music is one that really actually defies any pre-established genre.

The album’s first single “Stop The Rock,” is one of the best tracks with its catchy, pop-sounding guitar riff thrown in with some innovative drum loops and a computerized voice saying “Stop the rock/ Can’t stop the rock/ Shake my paranoia/ Dancing like Madonna/ Into the groovy.”

Another sweet fusion of rock and electronica comes in “Cold Rock The Mic,” an energetic song also found on the soundtrack for the racing game “Gran Turismo 2.” It fits perfectly both here and on the soundtrack.

An interesting version of the theme for “Lost In Space” also shows up on this record. It also contains that unbeatable element of rock riffs and background beats, but this time throws in some horn music to play what could be called the chorus, making this song candy for the ears.

This first song, which actually sounds like a real rock song with normal vocals, doesn’t come until the 10th song, but it also takes on the electronica feel as the song progresses.

Like many works of the electronica genre, the sound tends to become a bit redundant after a while, but it’s not nearly as bad with Apollo as it is with others.

“Gettin’ High On Your Supply” can be a good way to ease into a new kind of music, but it will also please the most hard-core of electronica fans.

4 Stars