Joy Electric
Old Wives Tales (Tooth & Nail)
by Scott Hefflon
Ronnie Martin, the sole member of Joy Electric, creates music like no one else. No one else in the ’90s, at least. Creating synthesizer sounds from scratch is not exactly commonplace, but that’s what Ronnie does. Even steering clear of samples, the omnipresent crutch of ambient, techno, industrial, and the spectrum of cross-breeding therein, Joy Electric maintains a purity of sound rarely equaled, even in electronic music. The closest one can come (at least this one) to comparing the clarity of sound is mid-’80s Pet Shop Boys. I mean that in a complimentary way, of course. There’s no mucking about with guitars (especially crunching or grinding ones), drum sets (or even drum machines, which now are versatile enough to make a mere two-armed virtuoso like Neil Peart sound like a click track), or any other human instrument. Except for the voice. And that voice has been so processed that it too sounds synthetic. In a good way, of course. Ronnie’s voice doesn’t sound so much like that of a glorified monkey with artistic leanings and opposable thumbs as it does a pint-sized fairy (elf, if you prefer) with a wondrous sense of melody and a crystal-clear voice. Supporting this impression of downsized, otherworldly creature-ism are the lyrics. Not many second-rate poets, often mistakenly referred to as “lyricists,” have the knack for writing charming ditties involving lollipop trees, peppermint flowers, smiling rainbow lips, and singing junebugs. Not since Syd Barrett, I believe. But I reminisce. That, too, is the beauty of Joy Electric – dreamy textures of synthetic sounds, layered like a fantastic banquet cake decorated with colorful oddities and scrumptious frosting, and cheerful and cuddly beings with astounding voices harmonizing as they work, play, and generally celebrate the joy of living in such a darn peachy environment. Remember those fuzzy-wuzzy Ewok things in Return of the Jedi? What about the Woompa fellas in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? You catch my drift?
Anyway, Joy Electric’s music is like no one else’s. Without being a joke itself, or a parody of something else (see Moog Cookbook, then buy it immediately), Joy Electric exists in a world by itself. Comparisons to ’80s New Wave only go as far as “hey, they both use synthesizers.” Ronnie uses synthesizers in a bold new way, taking basically dippy topics and irresistible pop melodies to a level never before reached. Never, at least, outside the confines of your acoustically-perfect daydreams.
