- It's fitting that the opening track on Sacred Machine, Ike Yard's first release in seven years, circles back to their beginnings. Over almost four decades, the band has experienced several evolutions without ever going away. They disbanded first in 1983 after the release of their self-titled debut album for Factory. After several reincarnations with projects like Dominatrix, Death Comet Crew and Black Rain, Ike Yard has resurfaced again, sounding uncannily relevant in the era of Dark Entries, Mannequin Records and post-punk-informed techno.
"Night Klub" is a darker, electronically corrupted counterpart to 1981's "Night After Night." With a fairly minimal structure, the original was powered by bass and psychedelic guitar. "Night Klub" is teeming with metallic details and plumped up with pads. "Spit" disfigures the band's aesthetics further, especially in the vocals that lurch between cool cold wave and demonic possession. "Sacred Machine" is unsettling in its claustrophobic guitar drones and witchy ambience. "Slaves Of Janet" sounds the most dated with its rock guitar riffs and spoken-word vocals, especially next to the moody techno of "Tear Drop," which features vocals from Camella Lobo of Tropic Of Cancer.
TracklistA1 Night Klub
A2 Sacred Machine
B1 Tear Drop feat. Tropic Of Cancer
B2 Spit
B3 Slaves Of Janet feat. Erica Belle