From the crew that gave us Funker Vogt and Ravenous (no not the black metal band!), comes their third side-project and it’s second release. The first one from Fictional to me wasn’t all that great, nor really showed off any of Ravenous’ or Funker Vogt’s mastery of the digital keyboard (though I think F.V. for the most part is rather redundant, they do have some definite high points). But this CD combines their recently found love of synthpop with their trademark techno/EBM sound, all topped with a very strange sort of futuristic pop. One of the ones that really got me to scratching my head was "The Weatherman", which is a great song, but rather... ... ... ... ... .bizarre. It’s basically about a intergalactic figure who controls weather, crossing that element with that of a debonair character in love. "Dorian Grey" is another one that kinda confuses me on the storyline idea, but the music is as interesting and melodic as it is bizarre. The opening part starts with a (yet again) futuristic Transylvanian style organ line, and a steady bass line carrying it on the way through. "IntenCity" sounds like a sort of, well... ... ... Frankie Goes To Hollywood in the 30th Century floating around on a space station (well, minus the gay connotation), with some of the best digital keyboard work seen in some time. The crew behind all this makes fine art of out of one of the biggest musical taboos of our time: Digital keyboards and digital sequencing. I doubt this would sound nearly the same if it were done on analog equipment at all. "Voyager" is another high point on the CD (overall, it has no apparent weak spots), with it’s stomping bass-drum line and thick vocoder use, set on the choir boy voice of Jason Bainbridge (who I believe also does the vocals for Ravenous). If I were to make any comparison of this group to another, I’d have to say "Silvertears" era Evil’s Toy, a little bit of Ravenous, Cleen, and SPOCK. If you’re into the whole futuristic pop/electro-pop thing like me, this one should be right up your alley. But do expect a little something more than ballads and ditty little pop songs, as there is a strong story and theme to this whole CD, as well as some great musical oddities. Anyone who sings about causing literally a thunderstorm in someone’s brain and love at the same time has definitely got something strange and captivating going on. Rating: 10. Also recommended are Cleen’s "Second Path", Ravenous’ "Phoenix" and Evil’s Toy’s "Silvertears".