Funkatron by Cult Of Jester: A Wild Ride Through Electro-Industrial Mayhem
Let’s cut to the chase—Funkatron is one of those albums that grabs you by the ears, shakes you around a bit, and leaves you wondering what just happened. Released in 2008 under Canada’s Flaming Fish Music label, this electro-industrial beast from Cult Of Jester doesn’t mess around. With Ed Finkler pulling triple duty as writer, performer, and producer (props to Carson Pierce for keeping things on track as executive-producer), it’s clear this album had some serious creative juice behind it.
Now, let’s talk tracks. There are 14 jams here, but two stood out like neon signs in a foggy alley: “Retro O.G.” and “Teenage Warhead (Mendoza Remix).”
First up, “Retro O.G.”—or more specifically, its ETF Original Mix version—is pure nostalgia wrapped in razor wire. It’s got that gritty industrial edge with enough synth bleeps and bloops to make your brain feel like it’s stuck in an '80s arcade game. The beat hits hard without being overly aggressive, kinda like when someone pokes fun at you but in a way that makes you laugh instead of cry. You can’t help but nod along while silently plotting how to steal this track for your next DJ set.
Then there’s “Teenage Warhead (Mendoza Remix),” which feels like if My Chemical Romance decided to hang out with Nine Inch Nails after too many energy drinks. This remix takes the original and cranks everything up to eleven, layering distorted vocals over pulsating beats that sound like they’re trying to escape the speakers. It’s chaotic, sure, but in the best possible way. Listening to it feels like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded—you know it might end badly, but damn if it isn’t exhilarating.
The rest of the album? Solid stuff. Tracks like “Lucretia My Reflection” bring moody vibes, while “P-Mondo” keeps things groovy enough to keep your feet moving. Even the quirky remixes, like “Ripple’n’Hookers (Steve Jobs Remix),” add flavor without feeling gimmicky. Sure, not every song will stick in your head forever, but hey, even the filler has charm.
What really ties Funkatron together is its DIY spirit. You can tell these guys weren’t chasing trends—they were building their own weird little world. And honestly? That’s refreshing. In a sea of polished, soulless electronic music, Cult Of Jester reminds us that sometimes imperfection is exactly what makes something memorable.
So yeah, give Funkatron a spin if you’re into music that sounds like robots having an existential crisis. Or don’t. But if you skip it, you’ll miss out on some killer beats and maybe even a few laughs. After all, how often do you get to hear a band name like Cult Of Jester?
Final thought: If this album were a person, it’d probably wear leather jackets covered in patches, quote obscure sci-fi movies, and still somehow be cooler than you.
