The Dignity Of Labour – The Dignity Of Labour
(A Different Drum, 2005)
If you’re into music that feels like a neon-lit fever dream dipped in synth magic, then The Dignity Of Labour might just be your next obsession. This US-born gem from 2005 is one of those albums where every track seems to shimmer with its own personality. It’s not perfect—sometimes it tries too hard—but when it clicks, holy cow, does it click.
Genre-wise, we’re talking Pop and Electronic vibes here, but don’t let the labels fool ya. The styles bounce all over: Trance for days, Synth-pop grooves that’ll have you nodding along, and Techno beats that could wake up the neighbors. And credit where it’s due: Brian Hazard absolutely crushed the mastering and mixing, while Kirk Taylor wore so many hats (performer, voice, synthesizer wizard) he probably needed a hat rack on tour.
Now, I gotta talk about two tracks that stuck with me like gum on a hot sidewalk: “Utopia” and “Liquid (Silica Gel Remix).”
“Utopia” kicks off like a sunrise at an abandoned rave. There’s this slow build-up, almost teasing you, before exploding into layers of pulsing synths and vocals smooth enough to butter toast. Kirk Taylor’s voice floats through like a ghost singing lullabies—it’s haunting but warm, if that makes sense? By the time the beat drops fully, you’re either dancing awkwardly in your kitchen or staring out the window thinking deep thoughts. Either way, it works.
Then there’s “Liquid (Silica Gel Remix),” which is basically what happens when someone pours liquid techno straight into your headphones. It’s hypnotic as hell, with these swirling melodies that feel like they’re melting around you. The remix adds this extra layer of grit, turning what could’ve been a chill track into something way more electric. Honestly, after hearing this version, the original feels kinda tame. Not mad at it though—it’s still solid—but this remix? Chef’s kiss.
What really ties everything together is Randall Erkelens’ sleeve design. It’s got that retro-futuristic vibe, like something plucked straight outta a ‘90s cyberpunk novel cover. You can tell thought went into making the whole package feel cohesive, even down to Miranda Hoversten’s photography. Kudos to Colin Mansfield for producing something that still holds up nearly two decades later.
But here’s the thing: listening to The Dignity Of Labour isn’t just about enjoying catchy tunes or slick production. It’s about getting lost in a world where machines sing and humans dream big. If anything, it reminds me how much fun music used to be before algorithms started telling us what to listen to. Like, imagine stumbling across this album in a dusty record store instead of scrolling endlessly online. Feels cooler already, right?
Anyway, give it a spin if you want to hear some old-school electronica done right. Or don’t—I’m not your mom. But seriously, do it. Your ears will thank you. Oh, and if you see Kirk Taylor walking around, buy him a coffee. Dude earned it.
Final thought: Whoever decided to spell "Cliché" without the accent twice in the tracklist should get a raise for sheer chaos energy.
