Out of the Dungeon XIV

Welcome to Out of the Dungeon, a many part series detailing a decade of NSFTM noise, hip hop, 'n' adventures from top No Sunlite for the Media scholars, historians, fans, 'n' collaborators. Medians share their thoughts on the absolute values of various NSFTM rekkerds, while we provide free audio streaming 'n' hi-quality file purchase of all the albums at our bandcamp page.

Out of the Dungeon XIV: Part 2 Comes After Part 1
Stations as the Center of Media Tricks
Reflections from Liz
[Media Tricks can be downloaded here]

No Sunlite’s Summer 2007 release of Media Tricks may have looked like Dungeon Records from the outside – similar DIY stamped decorations, liner note design and packaging, but this album was more mature and progressive than anything before. And, the Stations are the most successful part. You can like battling alligators in part one’s Within, or not rapping phony from part three’s Going Underground all you want—believe me, I think parts I and III are legitimate. But, all you non-lyrical content haters better not skip part II. Contrary to many wild claims by fans, the Stations are not boring. If it weren’t for the Stations, part II, there would be no tricking the media.

1 Jesus is condemned to death: with record scratching and a low voice that is almost part of the bassline, “crucify him” becomes the only comprehensible vocals of the entire Stations.
2 Jesus is made to carry his cross: in a chaotic environment, the harmonica is a fitting add-in to be interspersed between the more “noisy” sounds.
3 Jesus falls the first time: is entirely a breakdown of the pattern with a new sound and a clear riff. This station is almost a prelude to track 27, “Seventy,” the next thing best to the Stations. It moves to a slower, even peaceful moment as the music prepares for the next station.
4 Jesus meets his mother: in a sea of acoustic guitar layered with melodic humming this station is full and fitting for an entrance of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.
5 Simon helps Jesus carry his cross: pushing into a more electric tone than the previous two, St. Simon of Cyrene makes a choice on the Way of the Cross.
6 Veronica wipes the face of Jesus: as when Jesus meets Mary, the singing and humming come through as the strongest part of this station.
7 Jesus falls the second time: in a fashion reminiscent of the first fall, noise sounding like winds interrupts the slow note progression.
8 Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem: in a station where electronic noise takes the backseat for acoustic guitars and humming, “shhh” acts as a very soothing and feminine part of the Stations narrative.
9 Jesus falls the third time: where the sound is the same here as both stations three and seven, this stations closes its last few seconds with computer sounds overcoming the other noise, leading directly into the following station.
10 Jesus is stripped of his garments: this station, which almost feels like going through space, is brief but a distinct step apart from its surrounding stations.
11 Jesus is nailed to the cross: in a more metal trend than any other station, the eleventh station is filed with a heavy darkness.
12 Jesus dies on the cross: this station has the same heaviness as its previous, but is louder and therefore even heavier. There is no timidity in this, the shortest station, arguably the central one.
13 Jesus is taken down from the cross: permeating the listener’s ears with a softer, calming sound. The mix of melodic music and a male voice with humming featured similarly in other tracks is a fitting sound to accompany a vivid mental image of Mary holding her Son.
14 Jesus is laid in the tomb: more voices come in, giving the track more singing than humming vocal resonance. Rather than fade out, this last station ends distinctly, signifying closure to the devotion honoring the Passion.
So, listeners and fans alike, don’t you know? Two comes after one. Maybe it is the roman numerals throwing everyone off. I don’t know. But, I know I can count—one, two three. I, II, III. The Stations are where NSFTM’s heart is at for this album. No Sunlite remembers to remember the Savior in Media Tricks.

-L!Z
Williamsburg, VA
Dec. 2k9
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