Single Review: Vex Message - Data Regime

The only thing worse than bad music is good music that doesn’t fulfil its potential. Vex Message’s new single ‘Data Regime’ starts off with some dial-up tones and feedback before going into heavy bass, slowly accompanied by drums and guitar with the same intensity. It sets the tone for what this song is, a hard-hitting indie rock track that comes across as a blend of Kraftwerk and Kasabian.

When the vocals come in, the whole thing is only enhanced. The music builds and the refrain, “what is your role?” is repeated over and over again until the track builds to the chorus. Now, the chorus isn’t bad but it is jarring, and is such a huge deviation from what the song has established, that the track struggles to get back to the same energy. This heavy, rock, funk, ballad with a continuous kick and cool guitars is changed to the opposite as the vocals repeat a harmonious “in the data regime.” It just lacks the impact of the rest of the track.

Overall, this is a good song. It’s one of those that makes you crave live music again because you really feel the pound of the bass drum, the fuzz of the guitar. The only thing that lets the track down is a bland, out of place chorus that only lasts about 20 seconds but the effect of which can be felt throughout the rest of the song.

Words: Dale Maplethorpe