"PISTACHIO HOME" is the debut album from this NYC trio. The band’s name, which is said to be taken from "an obscure New York City subway stop", is almost a metaphor for the bands underground movement through techno-pop styles. The fifteen tracks touch upon the many influences of three band members, which are as diverse as the melting pot they hail from.

The first stop, if you will, is "Freedom Run", a track that features vocalist Clare Veniot and resounds favourably of the band GARBAGE. In track two, "Boy Behind The Veil", we hear David Cooper’s lead and the two continue to trade off vocals and accompaniment. This works well, as the two are capable of producing rich harmonies with ethereal melodies. Not to be forgotten, is musical backbone, Jack Freudenheim, whose electronic drumming, tastefully, takes center stage on all the tracks but moreover in the three instrumentals.

The stylings used in many of the songs echo of 80’s techno minus the vocal monotone that was the hallmark of many bands from that era. From beginning to end, you hear everything from EURYTHMICS and THOMPSON TWINS, to ST. ETIENNE, KATE BUSH, and even an epilogue that is reminiscent of ENIGMA. A prevailing dance rhythm is explored and fused with various elements of world music, such as the Gaelic, "Cura Animarum". Nestled towards the end of the disc, are two re-makes. A synthesized and vocally subdued version of the MELANIE tune, "Lay Down", and most notably, the BEATLES’, "Across the Universe". Being of the notion that carbon copies of songs are somewhat indecorous, I must note that both covers are- thankfully- given thorough makeovers. This also pays off in giving the disc it’s congruous sound, belying the nearly three decades spanned from original to re-recorded material.

Despite the many references made to artists of decades past, I would hesitate to label this band as retro. Their music exudes a worldliness if not reverence, which was noticeably absent from most cold-war era "escapism" bands. Also, the techno aspects of this trio’s repertoire seem more refined and less surreal than memory serves. Especially among the resurgence of dance bands, BLISS offers much more than the mind-numbing repetitious beats and fatuous lyrics of other artists in this genre. In short, if you enjoy dance music, but would prefer to "sit one out" from time to time, I have a new band for you.

-L.J.

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