The GIITTV reviews database 2003-2011
All the historic reviews from the God Is in The TV webzine.
Albums
The Sisters of Transistors - At The Ferranti Institute
Anthony Page 01/12/2009
Rating: 4.5/5
The Sisters of Transistors describe themselves as the Premier Ladies Combo Organ Quartet and as I'm not quite sure what one of those is I won't argue with them. They are based at the South Manchester Museum of Keyboard Technology and play only a collection of fully working exhibition organs, and this, their debut album comes out of the Ferranti Institute a group set up by Graham Massey from 808 state. Ok I know what you're thinking, so far so pretentious, can something that sounds like a nerds wet dream really be worth listening to?
My advice is to ignore the pretentious comments and back story and just enjoy the great tunes that exist in the “At The Ferranti Institute” album, because great tunes lay within. Anyone with a love of left field electronica will love this record, as will any fans of mildly twisted but great dance music in general. Sounding at times like Sterolab, others “Radioactivity” era Kraftwerk, dragging along bits of Air, 60's girl groups and the dark tones of 70's Italian horror sound trackers Goblin, it's amazing what many different sounds you can get out of just Organs and a drum kit.
Drums by the way played by Graham Massey under the title “Prof Vernon World”, but less of that as we are in danger of heading back into pretentious land.
Really avoid reading about the band and any of the supposedly wonderful back stories that come with them and just enjoy the music is my advice, the sisters are one of those bands that risk being eaten by their own pretentious back story, ignored because of it like Fischerspooner and others and they really don't deserve that, “At The Ferranti Institute” is the best dance/electro album I've heard all year and Sisters Of Transistors themselves have the promise to be the best UK electro act since Ladytron. Keep that in mind and ignore the pretentious hyperbole and you will discover a album to treasure, a rare treat, that is nowhere as beard strokingly dull as it first appears.