Sneaker Pimps
Becoming X

THE REVIEW

"Pipes Traversed by Frozen Neon" (from "Rockstar" December '97)

Becoming X was what Chris Corner aimed for in '96, and probably, given the name of the project he founded with the new Millennium, "IAMX," he succeeded.

Never was a title more appropriate for an album that, 11 years later, still sounds suspended between the undefined and the icy, yet terribly elegant, refined but never cloying.

I don't know if those who, like myself, listened to this album "live" had the same feeling, which is that the Electronic Pop of the Reading project would have a tough time with the passing of Seasons and Years, but it's a fact that the absolute invisibility enjoyed by the still beautiful subsequent albums "Splinter" and "Bloodsport" confirmed the common saying that you can't have a foot in two camps unless you're already an Acknowledged Icon...

The problem could be clarified with the expressions "Commercial but not enough, Refined but too Pop", and indeed this indefiniteness might be the weak point (for those who have to sell the Album) of "Becoming X." However, if we momentarily put aside useless prejudices tied to the era and consequently to the Genre (the Trip Hop) that then swallowed anything mildly related (and therefore also this album, although being Trip Hop as much as Tool is Hair Metal), we end up understanding that the "hesitant fluttering" of this First Work is, in reality, the strength and characteristic for which it is still enjoyed today, fresh as a just-baked brioche, even if the icy atmosphere of the disc makes the comparison seem off...

A year ago, I began by reviewing their (for now) latest album, and now I find myself on this path, intentionally backward, talking about the first one while there’s a fairly fresh rumor that sees them working on a fourth LP "SP5," (which in reality, as understood from the title, would be the fifth since an "SP4" was never released and whose songs ended up being included among the IAMX works), and needless to say, this excites me greatly and gives more sense to writing, which being my third on this group, would have little (depending...) to say.

The little refers to the biographical notes that you can read and to the Electro and Dark Wave influences of Corner & Co, which is quite redundant to discuss, having done so extensively already. More important things to highlight for those who have only listened to other works of theirs is that here in the singing is not Chris but, as the fashion of the time wanted, a sweet lady named Kelli Dayton destined to be remembered only for (the excellent, however) work done here and, furthermore, that if you are looking for the Spleen atmospheres of their second album ("Splinter"), you won't find them here.

There is no existential suffering here; there is only an aptitude for sonic elegance and programmed coldness that incredibly manages to captivate, sustained as it is by Dayton's subtle but sensual voice and a barely noticeable groove yet vibrant enough to remain extremely vital...

...and then the electrominimalism of “How Do”, the "fake" violins of “Walking Zero”, the almost dance rhythm of “Spin Spin Sugar”, the Darkish charm of “Tesko Suicide” and “Low Place Like Home” and obviously the Author's Pop of “6 Underground” are more than valid reasons to rediscover an album often confused in the pit of all too predictable easy listening.

I would stop here... in the comments you'll let me know if I’ve said enough, too much, or too little. For the rest, Happy Winter DeBaser people...

Becoming X, being light and undecided, frightened by a new millennium about to arrive but tired of the dominant nihilism of the one we're about to leave, Becoming X to defend ourselves and continue to live and be happy, invisible to enemies but present for those who, even just for a moment, loved us...

I Am X.

Mo.