Album Review: Shag by Contagious Sense
Released in 2008 under the French label Officially Dead, Shag by Contagious Sense dives deep into the gritty, pulsating world of electronic music. This album isn’t your run-of-the-mill electro release; it blends industrial and power electronics with a raw intensity that grabs you by the ears and doesn’t let go. The styles explored here are unapologetically abrasive yet strangely hypnotic, making it a standout piece for fans of experimental noise.
The tracklist includes five cuts, but two tracks in particular stick out as unforgettable. First up is "Shag (Hibou Version)." From the moment it kicks in, you're hit with this eerie, almost mechanical vibe—a mix of grinding synths and distorted rhythms. It’s like listening to an abandoned factory come alive at midnight. Something about its cold precision makes it linger in your mind long after the last beat fades. You can almost picture yourself wandering through dimly lit corridors while this plays on repeat. It's haunting, sure, but also oddly satisfying.
Then there’s "Redrum." If ever a song could embody chaos wrapped in structure, this would be it. With pounding percussion and layers of dissonant soundscapes, it feels both aggressive and calculated. There’s no escape from its relentless energy—it demands your attention and refuses to be ignored. It’s one of those tracks where you find yourself nodding along despite not fully understanding what’s happening musically. Maybe that’s the point? Either way, it works.
The rest of the album holds its own too. Tracks like "Kinky" bring some variety to the table, mixing sultry undertones with jagged beats, while "Redrum (Jeff T Version)" offers a reimagined take on the original, though it doesn’t quite pack the same punch. Still, the overall cohesion of Shag is impressive, considering how wildly different each track tries to be.
What really sets this album apart is its refusal to conform. Contagious Sense isn’t interested in playing it safe—they’re here to challenge listeners. At times, it might feel overwhelming, even alienating, but that’s kinda the charm. You won’t hear anything else quite like Shag, and honestly, that’s refreshing in today’s oversaturated music scene.
On a final note, if you’re someone who likes their music clean and predictable, this probably ain’t for you. But hey, maybe that’s exactly why you should give it a shot. After all, sometimes the best discoveries come when you least expect them. Like realizing halfway through writing this review that I actually misspelled "Contagious" twice. Oops. Guess even perfection has its limits—just like silence around these noisy tunes.
