Steven Meketa is labelled on this CD to perform the sermons and electronics. And those of you who haven’t seen this name before, how deep have you been sleeping? Because his noise could have woken you up by now. As Meketa Power Electronics, Blue Collar Calling (with Jim Szudy, a.k.a Jim Fellahean) or the almighty Lockweld has been active since about 1996. So I hope you slept well, but now it’s time to wake up.
The musical concept behind MEKETA seems easy enough, heavy electronic layers with vocals on top. Many other projects in the noise and power electronics scene use the same basics, but the differences between the acts always make someone stand out. Or create a solid imprint. And in a way, MEKETA is one of those acts that does things differently than others. But what it exactly is, that’s all in the eye/ear of the beholder.
Yes, this is all a personal opinion, but I’m just a reviewer who tries to describe things the way I see it. And on this album, as loud and intense as it is, the artist doesn’t fall into the ‘easy’ approach of adding distortion and heavy drone layers to the final result’s massiveness. Back then, it was all about massiveness and heaviness and bass rumble to make power electronics. Loops from horror movies, add bass with an EQ, throw it through distortion and scream over it. Steve does NOT do that. Musically he is working very structured and as close to the original sound devices as possible. Whatever these devices may be. And because of this approach, these layers remain interesting for people like me who are interested in ‘sound as a form of art’.
In addition to these layers – that, because of lack of massiveness, may sound ‘thin’ to people looking for bass and thickness – Steve does his sermons. The high-priest of power electronics spews, no wait, projectile vomits his thoughts and visions over you. Sometimes screaming in anger and despair, yelling, whispering and sometimes in everyday words, like he is just a normal man. But listen to the words and you know he’s not. With titles like “Are You a Good Person?”, “Do Not Hold Onto Hate”, “The Mouth is a Weapon”, “This Hate Will Kill You and Everyone Around You”, and the massive 11-minute closing track “Why?”. Power electronics/noise done out of love. It shows. And even I, a non-religious person, can admire this and the sincerity with which this is created.
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