Reality Bytes CD EP 
Artist: Galactus Jack 
Label: TVCM U.K.
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Soul Survivor:Re-mixed
Artist: Various Artists
Label: Survivor
 
Don't hold it against them, but the English never went through the "disco sucks" phase that saw Americans blowing up Donna Summer records in baseball stadiums and other assorted acts of intolerance.

And, in, my opinion, it was to the Brits' credit that they didn't. So, while house music remained a mid '80s underground club phenomenon in the country that birthed it, it became U.K. popchart fodder. Ditto for the techno/rave explosion, responsible for some of the early '90s' most creative/annoying singles, which made for some colorful Top 40 presences in Old Blighty but was marketed a few years later as electronica to keep commercial alt rock radio in the Next Big Thing stakes after grunge imploded after Kurt Cobain's death (and has since left the world Creed, Nickelback and Pop Evil;thanks for nothing, Seattle).

England has since birthed drum&bass/jungle, U.K. two-step, grime and other rhythmic permutations that may start in the discotheques and streets but rarely stay there. So, it makes sense that English Christians in and outside the evangelighetto have no compunction about working in these genres that seem fairly exotic to the U.S. milieu of Bible bookstores and CCM radio. 

The latest EP by Galactus Jack and a mini-compilation of remixes from acts recorded at England Soul Survivor worship event evidence at least two ways of approaching electronic club music from godly vantage points.

Jack works as a believer in the general market club culture, but there's enough of a sanctified vibe to set him apart. Scads of breakbeats, big beat (think Norman "Fatboy Slim" Cook, most famously)  flavor, some trance and electro tendencies, and GJ mines a sound that lovers of Basement Jaxx and The Chemical brothers could appreciate. He calls it electro-grunge, but, per an earlier paragraph, that's no reason to hate him. 

Lyrics makes the difference, however, as may be expected. He recalls under heralded '80s Brit Christian husband&wife electro-pop duo The Technos in his ironic use of old timey vocal effects on "Hollywood," but employees a fierce (if uncredited) rapper for "Temporary." And what's a DJ/producer worth his salt (and light!) without a lungbusting diva at his beck&call? Jack doesn't have to answer that question, as he has one aerobically powerful gal-again uncredited-whooping it up on the recent Cross Rhythms Radio hit, "Control." All the tunes with vocals deal with spiritual themes in an elpitical manner that beggars further consideration. Yes, Jack falls in that proudly ministry tradition of making thinking people's dance music.

And though there ought to be cogitation going on when one praises & worships, the songs on __Soul Survivor:Re-mixed__ work at a more direct humanity-to-Divinity level.Best known to us U.S. listeners among the songleaders featured here (though not listed on the jewelcase) is Tim Hughes, but folk-leaning Ben Cantelon and one lone lady, Lex Buckley get their tunes tweaked to clubby proportionality, too.

The lyrical directness of p&w anthems must befit a more straightforward approach to beats as well. Or so must have thought this set's producers. Nothing too out of the ordinary here. Not just because of her gender, but I'm taken with Buckley's "Join With The Angles" for the minimal, ethereal treatment it's given. And the trance-light background fitted to Hughes' version of the Tree63 hit "Blessed Be Your Name" is fetching enough, as  what's done here for his "Dancing Generation" generates nearly the same effect. Cantelon carries his weight (or the remixers carry it for him?), but the addition of a rapper to "We Will Dance (For Your Glory)" might not make for the smoothest match. 

Club music's  associations with fashion show culture and homosexual decadence likely keep it a tougher sell to a lot of U.S. churchgoers. A shame, that, as these two releases prove that tuneage of this stripe can honor the Lord in respectable-to-stunning ways.
 
Galactus Jack:
Soul Survivor Re-mixed:

Jamie Rake