Mind Power Mind Control

Jeff Mills album Mind Power Mind Control contains some material that was used in his film of the same name, a montage of arty promotional clips created for some of his releases and live events over the years. Both the album and the film relate to themes of mental states and dreams, and the music is appropriately abstract and hypnotic, matching the flickering images and fragmented scenes. Far from Mills club-focused techno work, this record contains more disconnected rhythms, with "Vibrant Sanguine" resembling an audio mirror of whirling shakers, spiraling cymbals, and trippy synth bleeps. The ten-minute "Hatsumi" manages to sneak a bassline through a similar audio maze, though its dubby pulse is highly sporadic, playing a disappearing trick on the listeners ears. The simmering "Vermillion" has the most plugged-in beat on the album, and it still feels as disorienting as the other tracks. "Transmutation" is beatless, but its ticking pulse, crystalline keyboards, and swerving bass grab the listeners attention and keep their mind in motion. Maybe not one of Mills most successful releases overall, but still an engaging look into his more experimental, cinematic side. ~ Paul Simpson