CNJR (pronounced Conjure) is the work of a nomadic music producer originally from the Pacific North West now relocated to Mexico. This album (c’mon I am not gonna type that out every time despite how wacky the title is) is his 2nd full length following WSTLND which came out last year.

CNJR, conjure up synth pop with a bit of an edge but not really as much as they think. There are vaguely dark elements throughout the album but nothing that really piques the interest beyond a tepid bubble in the spell cauldron. Certainly no hubble or boiling excitement here.

Now that is not to say that the pleasant electronica on offer here does not have its merits. Unfortunately, CNJR is very derivative and the acts that are borrowed from are innovators and it leaves this album sounding like the aural equivalent of imprints on silly putty.

MSS(dust edit) has a throbbing Portishead bass throughout it marred by a whispered vocal that gives it a creepy edge – creepy like a handsy uncle not a graveyard romp.

Back the beginning the album opens with the two singles “The Destroyers” and “Burning”. The former is a pleasant enough slow-paced track that sounds like it could be a 90’s Bond theme. I was waiting for some warbling to begin over the top of it and Pierce Brosnan to step into view. Neither happened. “Burning” is a bit more interesting. A cod reggae track with the repeated refrain “I can see the church burning” the only lyrics. It’s got a nice laid-back groove and at first I can see parallels with Prodigy’s last album No Tourists and I wait for the drop. Like Bob Marley I was forced to wait in vain (hang on he said he didn’t want to wait in vain…). This is definitely a lacklustre start.

Putrid Things is a 90’s Nine Inch Nails clone without the attitude. Just as it looks like things are heading to a climax CNJR dials it back to a mid-pace.

Being made by a music producer this album has a great sound each synthesised instrument sounds very clear but what lacks clarity or definition is the song writing. What is the point of great pieces if the puzzle is not worth listening to?

“Paint My Face with Ashes” and “Drunk On the Venom” are titles that I can imagine being on an EBM comp that was played in Cyberdog at the turn of the century whilst bored looking students from RADA dressed in day-glo earned a few quid dancing for tourists.  Yet again this is tired electronica that sounds like me pressing one of the demo keys on my Roland Go Keys.  I can’t work out who this is for? You can’t dance to it/ You can’t relax to it. It doesn’t titillate or inspire. It is not abrasive and annoying enough to make me want to rant. It just is.

“Tunnels” is an attempt at making Drive era synthwave and for me is the best track on the album. It gets the feel of artists such as Kavinsky and Gunship but without their flare and neon bubblegum pop.

If the album started with a film intro then “Drones” is a credits score from a Dolph Lungdren straight to video classic. Summat like Universal Soldier 3. This is another stab at synthwave but , yet again with no purpose.

The title of the album is quite poignant – it feels like CNJR is watching things through binoculars  from afar and missing out on the all-important details that bring the fire.

(3/10 Matt Mason)  

https://www.facebook.com/CNJRmusic

https://cnjrmusic.bandcamp.com/album/i-can-see-the-church-burning-through-the-binoculars