Fake Youth Cult is the project of Richard van Kruysdijk, an artist who has been integral to the Dutch music scene. Following releases on Delsin, as well as founding his own Music for Speakers label, this latest undertaking explores the darker hues of Van Kruysdijk’s audio creations. Across six tracks, a realm of shadows and steel is constructed. The album is only six tracks over the span of about 25 minutes making it more of an EP than a full-length album.

"Visitor" begins with bass sequencing with percussion coming in slowly and not fully realized until the track is almost over, and even then, more kick than anything else. "Scorched" concentrates on a distorted repeated low-end pattern which morphs into some higher frequencies as it progresses (then repeats the progression), and basic but solid rhythm track. There is a harpsichord-like break just before the end. No vocals so far so I guess this is an instrumental album. "Messing" is more low-end sequencing with an EBM drum machine beat with added bass lines coming in later, and still more sequencing. There are a few other elements in the mix as well, but relatively minor. "Smear" moves a little faster than the others with straight ahead beat (multiples on the kick), sawtooth sus-bass (at first...then later) with bouncy sequenced electronic elements. What would you expect from a track titled "Management" ? How about opening with a spoken female sample, then getting into heavy groove EBM. So far, this is the best track on the album, and club-worthy as well. "Pulsar" is is the final and longest track (8:38) and was featured music in a modern ballet performance. Beginning with distant choo-choo train sequenced noise, the minimal beat creeps in slowly rising in volume. Another sequenced rhythmic sound enters and lasts a while as the beat take center stage. Various electronic elements appear and disappear as this unstoppable juggernaut presses onward. It grows and swells until it sort of stops, but not completely with an under-beat still present until it finally fades away. Really? That's all?

This album, er, EP is very minimal and basic. It sounds like a demo template for something later to be expanded. I think even I could have knocked this off (or something similar) in a few hours as there is nothing really tricky here. I guess it could be called minimal techno, but most techno I've heard has a lot more to offer than 'White Light / Black Noise'. I listened to Fake Youth Cult's previous release, 'Discipline' (EP) from 2003 and the methodology is pretty much the same. In the '80s or even early '90s this may have been sort of avant garde minimal electro, but we've really come so much further musically since then. Best thing about this release is the colored vinyl the record is pressed on.