Search - Agency-X :: Mission Impossible

Agency-X
Mission Impossible
Genre: Pop

Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
1. S.O.S. (On the Radio)
2. New World
3. Catch Me
4. Right By Your Side
5. Happy Together
6. Don't Hold Your Breath
7. At the End of the Day
8. Separate Lives
9. Western Sky
10. Middle of Nowhere

CD Details

All Artists: Agency-X
Title: Mission Impossible
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Delicious
Original Release Date: 5/20/2003
Release Date: 5/20/2003
Genre: Pop
Style:
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 777215104723

Synopsis

Album Description

Agents Lars Wallden and davidmahr have emerged from their secret studios in Karlshamn, Sweden and San Francisco, California with the final mix of their full-length CD, "Mission Impossible." The strong debut delivers 10 delicious synthpop confections, each with its own brand of bittersweet complexity and optimism: think percolating Kraftwerkian music meets 80s pop soul. Those who enjoy the sound of early analog electronic artists of the 70's & 80's (Kraftwerk, Gary Numan, Human League, New Order, OMD, Men Without Hats, Depeche Mode, Erasure & Ultravox), or who enjoy the emerging electroclash/future-pop/nu-wave/electro-pop artists (Miss Kittin, Le Car, iSatellite, Fischerspooner & Ladytron) will enjoy the music of Agency-X.

CD Reviews

Great mix of old school style and today's nu-electro sounds

D. H. Richards | Silver Spring, MD USA | 06/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Agency X mixes the best of the late, lamented Avant Garde and the criminally overlooked davidmahr for a really fun spin through Vince Clarke style synthpop. Lars Wallden and davidmahr collaborated on this project, and despite having never actually met in real life, their styles seem to mesh perfectly. Like some other recent entries from the underground synthpop genre, Agency-X explores that 1981 sound. But unlike say Gary Flanagan or I Satellite, the Agency step beyond the art-school approach and fully embrace the Top of the Pops sound found on OMD singles and Wonderland. For example see "Happy Together," which practically sounds like a follow up to "Oh LíAmour."
I know that some (many?) might sigh and cry "retro," but there is something to say for being able to successfully operate in a specific idiom, being fluent enough to fool the natives as it were.
I think the best thing about this album is how it really plays up the strengths of the two collaborators. I always found the music side of davidmahr to be his one (just slightly) weak spot and Avant Gardeís handle on lyrics to be their weakest link. Agency X seems to cancel out those deficiencies with great aplomb. See "At the End of the Day" as a prime example.
I would recommend this, I Satellite's Auto:matic and Gary Flanagan's Future Fashion as 2003's best old school synthpop albums."