Review
Container
Adhesive

Liberation Technologies (2014) Andy Armageddon

Container – Adhesive cover artwork
Container – Adhesive — Liberation Technologies, 2014

Combining throbbing electronic music with scratchy and crackly noise elements, Providence, Rhode Island’s Container has been getting more and more notice in recent years. Perhaps one reason for this is the fact that musician/producer Ren Schofield (who essentially is Container) has continued to improve, pumping out almost industrial-oriented tracks using conventional techno beats even as many electronic artists have been caught up in various flavor of the week “genres.” Container’s 2014 instrumental EP Adhesive doesn’t sound much different from the group’s immediately previous release Treatment, yet Adhesive is a better, more polished and precise effort that’s quite a bit more consistent than many of this year’s rather unwieldy electronic albums.

“Glaze,” a track built around a pretty standard but punchy 4/4 kick drum beat, starts the album off with electronic toms cascading over screeching metallic accents during the track’s middle section. “Slush” sounds a bit more aggressive right off the bat, as high-pitched squeals erupt over crunchy percussion accents, but it eventually settles into a hypnotic main section pushed along by an unyielding drum roll. Increasingly frantic as it goes along, this second track gives way to the almost icy and trance-inducing “Complex,” possibly the track here that would be most at home in a dance club due to its hammering, infectious rhythm. Adhesive finishes up with the (appropriately named) title track, a finale which places the listener in a sticky mess of nagging sonic elements – heavy bass drum hits along with chattering woody percussion accents. By its conclusion, the track becomes quite spacey as ghostly shrieking overwhelms the remaining elements, providing an appropriately mysterious ending to this odd but captivating EP.

Much of Adhesive seems designed to make a listener feel uneasy, as if he’s being assaulted by harsh rhythms and unconventional electronic sounds. One of the disc’s most surprising aspects then is that this whole thing is strangely danceable from start to finish despite the fact that there’s not much in the way of a traditional melody – even one of the barebones techno music variety - going on at any point. As such, the album may be too repetitive or minimalistic for some people, but the prominent, energetic rhythms certainly grab a listener’s attention and rarely let up once they do get going. Personally, I love Container’s old school approach and the dirty-sounding combinations of electronics and noise on display here. Adhesive compares favorably to the best 1990s-era electronic music, and I’d say it’s definitely worth checking out – one of the year’s best electronic releases.

Container – Adhesive cover artwork
Container – Adhesive — Liberation Technologies, 2014

Recently-posted album reviews

Between the Buried and Me

The Blue Nowhere
Inside Out (2025)

Between The Buried And Me are seasoned vets to the progressive metalcore, electronic, prog (whatever other genre they bend) scene and continue to drop album after album. Their career started back in 2000 from the ashes of one of the greatest metalcore bands of all time (in my humble opinion), Prayer For Cleansing. As the band has progressed over the … Read more

The Beths

Straight Line Was A Lie
Anti (2025)

Dear Beths, Congratulations on the new release. I’ve been reflecting on our relationship and, as I’ve recently started to write about music again, have been asked to share my thoughts with you. First and foremost, I want to say that this isn’t easy for me. I cherish your album Future Me Hates Me from 2018. The title track alone is … Read more

East End Redemption

Crashing Down
Independent (2025)

Who would’ve thought that from the land of lobsters and blueberries, you’d find a punk band? East End Redemption is a four-piece band that brings their flavor of punk from Portland, Maine to the masses with their eleven song, debut full-length album, Crashing Down. They mix elements of skate punk, power pop, and even hints of hardcore punk. The band … Read more