Jobie Reviews Music 118: Go (album) by David Vector. Requested by F63.

Go is a 2006 techno/electronic album by David Vector. It is 12 tracks long, spanning 57 minutes of music. The album is notable for its interesting blend of classic rock elements and techno sound, which make for a unique sound that very few albums share. This is most apparent in the track “Steamville”, which makes use of this sound frequently and effectively.

The album’s stand out sound is what makes it an interesting listen, with each track being a new showcase of what Vector’s sound can deliver. To illustrate what I mean by this, take the track “Go”, for example. It incorporates less guitar elements than other tracks on the album (but they’re still present!), which shows how even a minor version of the album’s signature song can still make a track musically interesting.

One of the tracks that stands out on this album is the track “Antidote”, which is a departure from the album’s upbeat tone. As you may have guessed, “Antidote” is a track that’s a lot more serious than the other 11. Its lyrics are a commentary about those who wish to make the world “divine”, with Vector going as far as to say that, if there was a vaccine to cure the world of anything that isn’t “divine”, then certain people would drag unsuspecting people out of homes. It’s a welcome change from the album’s other themes (which mostly consist of love melodies), and shows that Vector can write more serious songs if he chooses.

Another track which I’d like to specifically comment on is the track “Steamville”. “Steamville” has actually been an underground favorite of me and a few friends since at least mid-2020, during which we discovered it by accident. Having said that, “Steamville” is a wonderful, catchy electronic/techno blend of guitar elements which go together insanely well. I’d go as far to say that it’s the best track on the entire album, with its chorus being one of the best on the 12 track album.

I should also take a brief moment to recognize the fact that this album - and David Vector himself - are really, really underground. However underground, you may ask? I’m talking less than 1,000 plays on Spotify underground. In fact, on Spotify, Vector has a mere 2 monthly listeners - one of which I personally know (yes, that’s really how underground Vector is). This is quite a curious fact, too, since it seems like an album with this sound would be a lot more popular. Not related to the music, but I thought I’d mention that.

My one critique of the album is the track “Sweat”. While it delivers in the instrumentation and vocal department like the other 11 tracks, the lyrics are very iffy. It’s definitely the album’s lowest point, but it still makes for a decent track, at the very least.

My favorite tracks from this album are “Steamville”, “Antidote”, and “In-Flight Movie”.

Overall, Go is an interesting blend of guitar elements and electronic sound, which come together to create an intriguing sound that will keep one listening until the very end. Having very little to criticize, the album is a nice listen all around, and is definitely worth a listen - even 15 years after its initial release.

Overall rating:

8.5/10

LINK TO ALBUM:

https://open.spotify.com/album/3UqLtn4mzSxwNRURo4VEip?si=t_IpbO1ZRCC077mEzQbLBA