More Violence and Geography

Before laptop improv and process-oriented experimental ambient, Illusion of Safety used to be an avant industrial project. More Violence and Geography is Dan Burke's first LP as IOS, originally released by Complacency in 1988. Fans of the group's later work are in for a surprise; the music mostly consists of found voices set to harsh noise and spliced rhythm tracks. It gives a strong sound collage impression in addition to the clinky-clanky feel of the '80s industrial cassette underground. Despite the title, the music doesn't come across as particularly violent. On the contrary, Burke's knack for controlled ambiences is already at play in tracks like "Dead Girl and the Man" and "Haydn and the Jets" (both use orchestra samples). More disturbing than what Nine Inch Nails and Einstürzende Neubauten were doing at the time because it relies less on rhythm (and makes absolutely no concession to any market, be it so-called alternative), More Violence and Geography remains an interesting historical item, but Burke has recorded much more compelling albums afterwards. Die Stadt's 2002 CD reissue sports new cover artwork and adds "Unknown Quantity," an 11-minute live bonus track from 1991, previously unreleased. It reaches a better synthesis of Burke's interests in industrial and drone music than the studio album itself. ~ François Couture, Rovi