Face the Robot

Five years after Ousia's debut album, Why Is That a 4?, pretty much everyone had forgotten about this ambient/space electronica outfit. Face the Robot could have been an unwelcome second try. Instead, it showcases a group that has contemporized their sound and is still on top of their art. The music remains essentially keyboard-driven, with occasional guitars providing textures — "Ebow Lullabye" gives a good idea of what they are used for. Beat boxes provide the pulse; bassist Dave Onnen anchors it with basslines one wishes were a little bit more audacious and prominent. References to the Orb and the Enid are in order, but also to Quarkspace — Ousia often comes very close to dreamy space rock; all it would take to cross the border is a real drummer. Tracks tend to be interchangeable and can be split into two categories: beat-driven flights and ambient floating. The guitarists use the E-Bow in a way strongly reminiscent of Heldon's Richard Pinhas or the folks in Djam Karet, hence the rock feel (even post-rock vibes in the melancholy guitar work providing the basis for "In Absence"). It's all nice background music, but it lacks character, distinguishing elements to make it more than just another space album. ~ François Couture, Rovi