X: THC: X: The Human Condition

X: THC: X: The Human Condition
X: THC is the brain child of composer, filmmaker, and performer, Michael Nova. His first album X: The Human Condition is a multimedia experience that includes a CD and DVD.
While I respect Michael Nova’s vision of a synesthesic experience, the music is really what I want to focus on. X: The Human Condition is somewhere between trip-hop, psychedelia, and industrial. The opening track “Hide” reminds me of the production on Deltron 3030 which was masterminded by Dan the Automator and Kid Koala. The track has production that was clearly influenced by downtempo and hip hop and even features a good amount of vinyl scratching.
On other tracks like “For Violins”, there is more of a rock influence showcased. The track sounds like U2‘s “New Years Day” being remixed by Nine Inch Nails.
The weakness on the track and on the album as a whole is the vocals. Nova’s voice is not very strong. Although that has not stopped many artists, Nova writes songs that are meant to be sung by a strong voice. Instead his voice comes off as a mixture between Michael Hutchence of INXS and Morrissey; its weak and wispy and when he sings in falsetto (which he does too often) it goes a little out of tune.
As I said, the song writing and production is not really the problem. Musically, the album is actually pretty solid but vocal wise I just can not get behind Nova’s vocals.
Rating: 3.3/10
MP3: X: THC “For Violins”
Buy: iTunes