Directive V – Frigio 42

It’s easy to see – or hear – how you could find ‘Lexploitation’, the first track on Directive V, pretty intimidating. The trance-inducing background snare lines and cold, retro-futurist synth line, coupled with thudding kick drums, quickly invoke Brad Fiedel’s score to The Terminator and Terminator 2, although here things might even sound a little more sinister, what with those ghoulish background whispers. Thankfully, for those who don’t like their electro with death robots, the hilariously-titled ‘Memories of Sex Desire’ soon changes things up, a little at least, bringing in a classic 1980s wave refrain and downtempo break. ‘Leaders in Space’ is far bouncier, bordering on Italo but not quite committing, while ‘Cyber Bondage’ brings elements of acid to the fore.