Underground Resistance Interstellar Fugitives Underground Resistance 8/98 [URCD-045] Submerge You won't see the faces of Detroit's Underground Resistance on MTV or MuchMusic; in fact, you won't see the faces of UR in interviews, included in a press pack, or even on their releases. While some artists "do publicity", UR issue blunt missives of their intent; a statement denouncing "…the programmers [who] systematically inject your beloved electronic music with a poisonous host of false prophets of sound [while] many so called underground heroes one by one fold and tap dance for the man" leaves no room for misinterpretation. For those unfamiliar with Underground Resistance, the group has been unleashing politically-charged electronic music on their eponymous label since early 1990. Where the group included Jeff Mills and Robert Hood in the first phase, Mike Banks has been the leader throughout, masterminding not just UR the artist and UR the label, but also Submerge distribution, home to Red Planet, Direct Beat, 430 West and other local labels respected the world over. From an industry point of view, the adage is to promote the "face" of an artist, UR instead use photos of revolutionaries like Malcolm X and Huey Newton in their album artwork. For Underground Resistance, the music and the message cannot be separated. The music on "Interstellar Fugitives" is a collective effort, with input from established UR operatives including Banks, James Pennington, DJ Rolando, and Andre Holland, along with new initiates into the UR fold: Chuck "Perception" Gibson and Marc "Chaos" Floyd. Even the defunkt Drexciya were persuaded to record two tracks under their now disused moniker. The music is raw, reaching back to techno's forerunner-electro-and cloaking it with chilling spoken word ("I am a voice from the past, standing in the future, to forever haunt you"; from The Suburban Knight's "Maroon") and sounds from an alien universe melded with uncompromising futurefunk that urges listeners to expand their minds as they swing their hips. UR's "Interstellar Fugitives" is a document that, like many visionary works of art, might not be appreciated by those who need it most today, but will be held as an essential sonic achievement when we do take time to examine our electronic music history some time in the future. "Everything you see, may not be real; everything you read, may not be true," intones the voice of Perception. "Everything you hear, may not be there; look inside your soul, listen to your heart--it might be a mirage." --Andrew Duke Back to album reviews index