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Maxi Ultra•Fresh ...Fancy Ultra•Fresh ... Hi-Five My Remix ... Fashion Impression Function ... Freezepop Forever ... the Orange EP ... live shows ... videogames ... compilations

features and interviews:
- liz interview at pressedmusic
- an interview on 100% Unnatural
- an interview in boston's weekly dig
- a feature in the boston globe
- an interview in side-line magazine
- a feature in northeast performer
- a little sean and liz interview
- a duke and liz interview on earlash.com
- a swedish interview on electrocult
- a story in wired
- a japanese interview (there's a link to the original english too)
- band interview at turnuptherock
- an article on 100% Unnatural
- band interview on synthpopalooza radio
- liz interview at womanrock.com
- the duke won a depeche mode remix contest
- freezepop feature on viceland.com
- duke interview on freq.com
- freezepop interview on coolgrrrls.com
- the band go on at great length about the status of electronic music

Maxi Ultra•Fresh

‘ Boys On Film’ is a frenetic, uptempo number, that goes through about eight different, erm, costume changes, all the time employing the robotic, electronic, ‘uber synthpop’ that seems to be their stock in trade. ‘Tonight’ is pure 80’s, deadpan female vocals juxtaposed with a vocoder/synthvoice, before relaxing into a cool, catchy piece of pervpop. ‘Chess King’ is scratchy and voyeuristic, reminiscent of ‘Trust Me, I’m A Doctor’, by that other purveyor of fantastic oddness, Momus.
‘ Smoke Machine’ is an enchanting, beautiful piece of detachment, documenting an encounter in the middle of a dry-ice engulfed dancefloor, summed up by the lyric “I’m not looking out for love/let’s live tonight, with no regrets’. Hmm. Why don’t the girls in ‘Cheekys’ nightclub in Staines have the same attitude? But I digress.
‘ Outer Space’/Plastic Stars’ is reminiscent of the theme tune to the late, great soap, ‘Brookside’ but with an otherworldly feeling, rather than somewhere like Liverpool. After a few minutes the song can’t hold back anymore and evolves into the huge, swirling epic it has been yearning to become, as the mantra ‘Run away/ far away/ run away/ run away’ leads us up into an almost celestial soundscape.
‘ Starlight’ shows they can do sad and serious if they desire. “Footsteps on the stairs/ I smell you on the pillow/ Starlight was on ZBC/ I watched you walk away”. Sad and serious work SO well when set to electronics…
‘ Stakeout’ allows for documentation of more voyeurism, here set to a bleepy, sequence, reminiscent of acid or even happy house toons.
‘ Duct Tape My Heart’ is a slower piece that shows their skill at utilising repetition. This track could easily be the soundtrack to a day in the life of a Siberian train driver. The two other tracks are remixes of previous numbers.
Overall, there seem to be two overriding themes here. Perving and outer space. But, despite an initial impression of ‘cool’, the fact is they are far from it. Serious, earnest muso types may well dismiss Freezepop’s output as somewhat naff and throwaway. I, for one, don’t care. This is a great record. Buy it, and let the pervy spaceman that probably lives in all of us have a dance.
-- James G, soundsxp.com

Freezepop's Maxi Ultra•Fresh is a 58 minute foray into a modern retro world of analog synths, thumping drum machines, and vocoded vocals. Blending male and female vocals, the band's synthetic sound showcases strong songwriting and nearly spotless production.
" Boys on Film", its title an obvious ode to Duran Duran, is part Devo-esque analog pop quirkiness, part modern electro. "Tonight", on the other hand, is a slightly moodier female-fronted synthpop affair with a particularly catchy finale. "Chess King" is one of the disc's best, a bouncy and particularly amusing synthpop club number about seeking love in the mall, while the new song, "Smoke Machine", offers up a sparse, moody verse and more energetic chorus accented by cascading background arpeggios before evolving into an almost trance-like interlude.
" Outer Space/Plastic Stars", a live WMBR performance that blends the more recent former with the older latter, is quite solid, sounding almost like a studio recording. "Starlight (Karacter Re•vision Remix)" is the disc's other club-friendly, upbeat, melodic synthpop standout, while "Parlez-vous Freezepop? (Inter:sect Remix)" is a strong, plodding number built around synth bass, slowly adding layers for a strong finish. "Stakeout (Kodomo Remix)" is an energetic outing with a sinister synth riff and a beautiful, lush synth-string-laden dance chorus. "Duct Tape My Heart (Forever Remix)" is probably the least exceptional and most repetitive remix here, delving into glitchy percussion and repeated vocal samples, while the closing "Outer Space (Boothnavy's V***ger Remix)" is a nice semi-ethereal, percussion-free finale that ends the album on a lovely low-key note.
Overall, Freezepop's Maxi Ultra•Fresh is an excellent release, original material, live material, and remixes coming together to form a surprisingly cohesive package that offers up nearly an hour of excellent synthpop and electro. Fans of synthpop, electro, and retro new wave should certainly give this one a spin.
-- Joshua Heinrich, graveconcernsezine.com

Fancy Ultra•Fresh

Nearly every group that has attempted to revive the vintage '80s synth pop sound has done so with at least part of their tongue firmly planted in cheek. With monikers like the Duke of Pannekoeken and Liz Enthusiasm and deadpan lyrics about malls, record stores, video games and party boys, Boston's Freezepop appear to be no exception. But what could have come across as a smarmy, ironic genre exercise instead works quite well thanks to the band's energetic presentation and excellent songwriting sensibilities. Much like Ladytron, Future Bible Heroes and Soviet, Freezepop don't just regurgitate tired Human League clichés for kicks. Memorable songs like "Bike Thief" and "Outer Space" actually add something to the synth pop legacy, bettering the music of many of their original heroes in the process.
-- Big Takeover

The unfazed fembot monotone of singer Liz Enthusiasm — which melds sublimely with the group’s repetitive raygun rhythms — really begs rebooting. You’ll do just that with Fancy Ultra•Fresh, their collection of shiny, plastic pop bits full of ironic humor.
— LA Weekly

Nerdy Boston synth-pop hipsters, Freezepop recall the wide-eyed innocence of Mute pioneers Daniel Miller's fake space age electro-pop band, The Silicon Teens - and also the stilted 'sex and Bacardi' swagger of Brighton's own Miss Pain. This I like. It's all to do with treating robots like little children like shimmering glass modules of purple and green and orange like rudimentary Kraftwerk drummachine patterns like candy.
Favoured track: 'Stakeout' "
-- Everett True, Loose Lips Sink Ships

Following in the footsteps of Human League, Ladytron, and Kraftwerk, Freezepop is a blend of fanciful, energetic dance pop mixed with songs that are more on the serious side. About half the songs on this album are fun filled tunes, while the other half are darker, more intricate pieces. In fact, I find this disc to be kind of schizophrenic, but, in many ways, I like it because it is so two sided. The band consists of front lady Liz Enthusiasm, the Duke of Pannekoeken, and the other Sean T. Drinkwater. Yes, probably not their real names, but their names seem to fit the playfulness of their songs. Also, I am always fascinated with electronic bands that become attached to one sequencer or keyboard and stick with it, trying to make it do what they want. Freezepop programs all their songs on a Yamaha QY-70 to great effect.
Fancy Ultra-Fresh begins with a tongue-in-cheek stalker song called "Stakeout". Liz states in here monotone voice over pulsing drums that she likes the boy who works in the indie-record store. Included on the disc is a video of the song. It's a catchy tune that will have you dancing in your living room. It's a fast tempo song that reminds me of an electronic version of Marine Research or Heavenly.
All in all, this disc is solid. The production is stellar and the songs are strong contributions to the genre. If you love to dance or love bands like Ladytron, this certainly is a band for you. Give Freezepop a try and you will be in for a tasty treat.
(Four stars)
-- Jason, somewherecold.com

Three years ago Freezepop were one of the few bands to give new life to the synthpop genre with the release of their debut album 'Freezepop Forever'. Since then, many things have changed, and while electropop is currently getting a lot more attention, you may have asked yourself what happened to this trio from Boston. First of all, Liz Enthusiasm, The Duke of Pannekoeken and The Other Sean T. Drinkwater weren’t being lazy, but it seems have got themselves caught up in remix-albums and side-projects just a little too much in recent years.
Their new CD, Fancy Ultra Fresh',shows that time has been good to the sound of Freezepop. It is definitely not a complete departure from the minimal but charming electropop of 'Freezepop Forever', but the production on songs like 'Bike Thief' or 'Parlez-Vous Freezepop?' is just a bit tighter, which turns out to be a good decision. After all, nothing in music is more annoying than professionals who still want to sound like amateurs. Most of the 13 songs are uptempo, but just when you thought the band’s B52’s meets Ladytron meets Miss Kittin party gets a little too exhausting, they come up with beautiful, more laid-back songs like 'Outer Space' or 'Duct Tape My Heart' to save you from overdose.
'Fancy Ultra Fresh' has got it all: Great singing, beautiful harmonies and a production that feels just right. Synthpop fans wouldn’t want to spend this spring without Freezepop.
-- Gilbert Blecken, pennyblackmusic.com

If Gerry House is country's answer to Spinal Tap and Aqua is the Spinal Tap of Europop, Freezepop may very well be the Spinal Tap of '80s-style synth pop and new wave. Of course, being described as a synth pop/new wave equivalent of Spinal Tap isn't necessarily what Freezepop is aiming for on Fancy Ultra Fresh; in various interviews, the Bostonians have downplayed the strong '80s influences in their wildly infectious music. But on Fancy Ultra Fresh, Freezepop has so much fun with synth pop and new wave stereotypes that you can't help but see this 2004 release as an affectionate celebration of the wackier side of Ronald Reagan/Margaret Thatcher-era pop culture. Comparisons to '80s favorites like the Human League, Soft Cell, Berlin, Duran Duran, and Thomas Dolby are unavoidable, and it would be a mistake to think that Freezepop's three members are merely good at what they do -- they're great at it. In contrast to all the ultra-introspective, angst-ridden lyrics that have come from alternative pop/rock in the '90s and 2000s, lovably goofy items like "Duct Tape My Heart," "Parlez-Vous Freezepop?," "Boys on Film" (as opposed to Duran Duran's "Girls on Film"), and "Chess King" are an exercise in pure, unmitigated fun. Lead singer Liz Enthusiasm isn't try to save the world on this CD; instead, she sings about all-night parties, club-hopping, fashion trends, and male bimbos in tight pants -- and she does it with a deadpan vocal style that is girlish, amusing, silly, sexy (in a detached way), and ironic all at once. Enthusiasm and her colleagues showed a great deal of promise on their first full-length album, Freezepop Forever, and their 2002 EP Fashion Impression Function, but on this superb disc, the New Englanders have truly achieved synth pop/new wave perfection.
-- Alex Henderson, allmusic guide

The success of recent synthpop/electroclash music -- the stuff that works on a few more levels than Now this is Clash! fodder -- is its ability to connect with both the generation that spawned the movement and the kids who are discovering it for the first time. Freezepop's music succeeds on both counts, carefully blending nostalgic sounds and themes with an updated, glossy digital sheen.
 "Chess King", if you recall (and I'm sorry if you do) is the name of a horrible shopping mall clothing store catering to young men with newly-full wallets and an inability to see beyond the next ninety days of sartorial trendiness. Accordingly, the song that bears its name documents the exploits of a young guy at the mall -- decked out in Drakkar, scamming on a girl at the Orange Julius, who wears Bennetton and who later confesses her love near the Esprit. Programmer/producer The Duke of Pannekoeken doesn't miss a trick, whipping up a lovely intro of Linn-drum rolls, throbbing saw-bass, stabbing horn samples and cowbell patterns straight out of "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)". It goes so far over the top that it comes back around to brilliant. Despite the obvious homage to Duran Duran, "Boys on Film" talks of dressing guys in "oh so chic" sailor suits, tight pants, eyeliner -- something you all did in the '80s, right? However, the band addresses their younger audience with a scene of our antagonist posting these "incriminating photos" online. Diabolical.
 Freezepop has another hook: their music is both danceable and listenable. That is, the beats find a home in the club, but the songs and lyrics are solid enough to keep you company on the way home. Early Depeche Mode has this, and Erasure, and even while Devo were singing nonsensical stuff about "Peek-A-Boo", they were catchy enough to take their place in the hall of fame -- good company to be in if you're going to make it in the synthpop world. "Stakeout" starts the set strong with a paranoid stalker track that any "indie-record shop" boy would die to be the subject of: "you get inside my head / I want you in my bed / from far away I check you out / can't let you see me, I'm on a stakeout." Vocalist Liz Enthusiasm sings with just enough sweetness to offset her robotic monotone and make you fall in love. "Parlez-Vous Freezepop?" inspires the same sort of saccharine-sweet addiction, though this high doesn't fade; you'll hear her staccato phrase, "Du jour Freezepop / parlez vous Freezepop" in your head for the rest of the day. "Bike Thief" tells a fairly simple story, but stretches out the anticipation of its climax (a Devo trick) and retains your interest with tense harmonies and slippery rhythms.
 There are two ways to listen to this disc. First, check it out without reading anything from the (really cool) Freezepop website or list of thank you's. Lose yourself in the Duke's technical ability and smart programming and writing (particularly on the vocoded and ambient orchestration of "Emotions and Photons" and dreamy "Outer Space"). Now I'll let you in on a secret: the entire album was created with one of the simplest (read: shittiest) sound modules known to man, the Yamaha QY-fucking-70. That's right, 128 patches and four effects, something that would paralyze most modern synthsters. Posing such a limitation could only help; the band had to rely on creativity and strong songwriting instead of endless banks of sounds to realize their music. Electronica kids, take note!
 Freezepop focus on the tricks they know well, avoiding the eclectic route that bogs down many acts (i.e. Bis), and write about everyday things (duct tape, Gameboys, love, fresh clothes). The result: honest music that's neither pretentious nor frivolous, and that shines on every count.
-- Dave Madden, splendidezine.com

Remember Freezepops? Your mom would make you eat them on the front stoop because you would end up with the melted snack all over you. Then you got too old for them and felt ridiculous squeezing the little plastic tube for some frozen sugar water. I bet, though, if someone handed you one right now, on a muggy summer evening, you would love it, and you wouldn't care how silly you felt.
And so it is (you're probably guessing) with Freezepop. A few notes into Fancy Ultra-Fresh, the band's second full length, and I was worried. This album had the potential to be a big Europop bomb, but I couldn't resist the fun anymore than I can resist a Flavorice during a typcial Virginia summer. This Freezepop album is a new summer classic.
Freezepop's sound doesn't change much throughout Fancy Ultra-Fresh (except for the slower serious songs) and the steadiness could be viewed as a bit of a shortcoming. On the other hand, the beats are so catchy and 90% of the lyrics are so fun that the group really has no reason to break from its sound. This synthpop is catchy, danceable, and entertaining. Plus, the album's got a great cover of the theme from Jem. There -- now Freezepop's officially taken you from childhood television through adolescent mall intrigue to wherever you are right now, which I hope is dancing around your front porch with a sticky freezepop in each hand.
-- Justin Cober-Lake, popmatters.com

Do you ever watch "I Love the '80s" on VH-1? Doesn't it make you cringe? Can you believe how insanely cheesy the consumers of the '80s let pop culture get? Oh, wait--it doesn't make you cringe? You think that '80s pop culture was adorable and you love to get dressed up and crimp your hair for the local '80s night?
I just don't understand it. What the hell is wrong with you? When will you realize that pop culture was at its peak in the early '90s (and then with the advent of Hanson, the Spice Girls, and boy bands it went into a downward spiral from which it has not yet recovered)? Your fascination with the '80s had better just be an ironically detached one and not true reverence, if you know what's good for you, Missy!
I'll confess--I can't stand '80s dance music. It's just too damn cheesy. Even a lot of New Order songs sound too cheesy to me. A lot of '80s music could be better than it was if they had just turned down the cheese level. That's why these '80s-influenced electronic pop bands are good. They take the good stuff from the '80s and leave a lot of the cheesiness behind. That's also why a lot of covers of '80s songs sound better than the original. Get it? (Strangely enough, however, I do have a soft spot for some of the contemporary electronic pop that wears its '80s dance music on its sleeve, especially I Am the World Trade Center and Ladytron. And now, Freezepop.)
And what about Freezepop? Freezepop takes its '80s revival job the most seriously out of all the '80s revival electronic pop bands out there. Well, not extremely seriously. Their music is all about fun. Far from being as hip as Ladytron, and more sugary and kitschy than I Am the World Trade Center, Freezepop have made a unique little niche for themselves in the whole scheme of '80s nostalgia. Their allegiance to the '80s is the least ironic and most faithful of any (or most of the) electronic pop bands out there, but thanks to that rose-colored filter of nostalgia that absorbs most of the impurities for which the '80s are notorious, their music is very digestible.
So, let's get more specific about Freezepop here. Freezepop is a three-piece, two men and one woman. Most of the vocals are female (which makes it more appealing to me), but you've got some male backing vocals and lead male vocals on two songs. They do use vocoder, but not so much that it gets annoying. All their music is done on a Yamaha synthesizer. Now, I don't know how significant that is, but maybe that'll mean something to any synth geeks out there. Even though their music is all done on this synth, their songs don't sound too much like either. That must be a great synth!
The lyrical content? It’s quite twee in nature and very cutesy. Lots of boy-girl love. My favorite about the boy-girl love songs is the album's leadoff track, "Stakeout", which is sung from the point of view of an girl secretly checking out an indie boy outside the local record store. I also like "Chess King", one of the male lead vocal turns, in which the singer picks up a girl at a mall. The climax is when they get in the elevator together. "First floor, you tell me that you like me outside the Espirit. Second floor, you tell me that you need me. Oh, you're so heavenly. Third floor, you tell me you deserve me. It's you I adore. Fourth floor, you tell me that you love me, my heart starts to soar."
But the really big hit standout track is "I Am Not Your Gameboy". It starts off with a Speak and Spell spelling "Freezepop" in two tries (on the first attempt, the Speak and Spell spells out "F-R-E-E-Z-E-P-O-O-P) and then launches into an upbeat little number that happens to be one of the most unlikely feminist anthems. "I don't have Ms. Pac Man, Asteroids, or Donkey Kong," begins the stern, yet upbeat warning. "Don't look here for Tetris, even Super Mario. Don't ask me, I told you no." And things get even more clear with, "I don't have a joystick, or a backlit LCD. Don't push that cartridge inside me. 'Cause I'll push back, just wait and see." But really, this isn't a serious riot grrrl anthem. It's a very fun party song to which all the cool kids will be partying... if they ever encounter it.
Oh, and if you want a good idea of the extent of Freezepop's allegiance to the '80s, I guess I should tell you that one of the songs is entitled "Boys on Film". And besides that, here's a real kicker... there's an unlisted track. The unlisted track is a cover of the theme from the '80s cartoon, Jem. Yes, it’s the show about the female rock singer. Yes, it’s done in electronic pop fashion. Now you '80s fanatics know you have to have this CD.
But still, I love this album.
--Eric Wolf, mundanesounds.com

Wow!
That's all I can say after listening to it for the first time. I can't speak at all after listening to it the second time. After listening through the record a third time, my brain can finally handle the euphoric feelings while being aware of the real world as well. On their new album "Fancy Ultra•Fresh," Freezepop delivers one happypoppish song after another in such a tempo you will have a hard time not falling into bliss. Spirited melodies, analog sounds and wonderfully naive lyrics make Freezepop the advocates of the light-hearted any time of the day.
The potential singles are many and I would like to say that there isn't a single song that can be questioned. Not even the only tranquil song, "Outer Space," feels malplaced as it is a break in the middle of the record and gives you a chance to retrieve some fluids before the party continues.
It's a extra treat if you are sitting by the computer. A Flash-video and some live materials offer some stimulants for your eyes, and as if this wasn't enough, you can also find a new mix on the Depeche-cover
" Photographic."
As said, "Fancy Ultra•Fresh" offers everything that is needed to give the grey weekday a neon pink shade. Furthermore, this is this year's first clear 5-pointer in my record collection.
- Jonaz Bjork, zeromagazine.com, translated by August Flensburg, here's the original Swedish review.

How bizarre was this, that literally the day I wrote the review for their first album, a promo pack arrived in the mail containing this their brand new lp? I'd barely absorbed the first and I had a new one to deal with. I don't normally write reviews so quickly after getting things, but I think I have the gist of this one already, and have heard it a number of times already, plus they seemed destined to appear together. The problem I would expect from a second outing here would be, what do they do? A band this kitschy creates it's own problems, because if they imitate the first lp they'll be quickly dismissed, yet that's the very thing that makes them unique. They have to grow, yet remian true to what they are, while staying interesting. That kills a lot of bands on record number two my friends. In this case, I think in their desire for "expansion" lets say, they do allow some tracks to go on too long, and not every idea on here is a good one, but overall this is a very solid effort. (I am being picky, but I'm a critic after all) The opener, Stakeout is quintessentially them, yet it's fresh and a welcome little pop number. Outer Space is also a very welcome change, as it's a very soft and emotive ballad in which Liz shows she really does have a very nice voice, and musically it's very unlike their past work, and certainly more adult. They still retain their playful qualities however, so don't think they've sold out or anything, but the mood on many of the songs here is more laid back and smooth. I think I like the original just a tad more, and only for the "fresh" quality it has. However, this is clearly an excellent effort that shows this band knows both who they are, and where they're heading and in time it may grow to surpass the first in my opinion. They didn't try to exceed what they are, or be something they're not. There's a lot of good songs on here, and a few great ones, and I think the future looks bright for them. In fact, the only sad news is the Duke of Candied Apples is now the Duke of Pannekoeken. I'd rather duke it over candy apples than european pancakes, and even my kid was sad at the change. Maybe next time he'll be "the artist formerly known as the Duke of Candied Apples". I don't care, so long as it's an LP this good.
9.7/10
-- indiespinzone.com

As homage to spring, that pitifully brief harbinger of summer, and to all her entourage of horticulturally tinkered crocuses, tulips and dahlias in their Technicolor splendor, I recommend popping a brand new Freezepop CD into your PC. The music and the digitally enhanced goodies will deliver a mild sugar high with no nutritional value.
Freezepop’s latest collection of electronic ear candy, “Fancy Ultra-Fresh,” still abounds with blippy buoyancy, but is decidedly more introspective than their previous releases in a dreamy, vulnerable sort of way. Songs of puppy-slush love and celestial meanderings add a wistful touch. On the whole, their new collection is more polished and nuanced than “Freezepop Forever,” though their debut predecessor excelled in sheer originality and farcical power. For example, their parodied karaoke video of “Tenisu no Boifurendo (Tennis Boyfriend)” achieves a hilarity that no high-budget high-gloss music video could hope to attain.
Freezepop endears itself to local fans in Boston and around the world by virtue of their self-mockery. Any band that comes up with songs that combine the words “duct tape” and “romance” does not take themselves seriously. The trio creates odes to urban pop culture and snazzily packages their products with the help of a talented group of digital artists and programmers, including Liz Enthusiasm, the vocalist-cum-Web site manager and Flash moviemaker.
The Duke, who wields a hand-held sequencer by Yamaha, and the Other Sean T. Drinkwater, who mans a Roland synthesizer, make up the rest of the trio. Together, they explore the infinite possibilities of electronica music and weave together strands of plastic gems with happy vibes. Virtually any sound can be mixed, sampled, and juxtaposed to any other sound from varying historical or cultural origins. The unexpected combinations create humor and insight into quirky human behavior, Gameboys, and photons.
“ Stakeout” is undeniably the cream of the crop on the album. Liz Enthusiasm sings about a hackneyed scheme of girl-ensnares-unwitting-boy with her charming combination of girly guile and stalker attitude. The lyrics are deceptively simple, and Enthusiasm is by no means an exceptional vocalist, but the celery-like crispness of her voice and deadpan delivery matches well with the polyphony of blippy electronica.
“ Emotions & Photons” is the other masterpiece, colored by the Duke’s wistful sing-song whisper and textured by an intricate interlacing of multiple blippy melodies, kaleidoscopic and resplendent. The song would provide suitable background music for both a luxurious lull in a Sunday afternoon and a dawning sky after a night of serious tooling.
As I write this, sharing an Amtrak compartment with a group of Amish travelers, the emotional reductionism of Freezepop is poignant against a rolling bucolic landscape of Pennsylvania. Freezepop cannot reign in a world devoid of electricity and shiny modern appliances.
The lack of emotional complexity is by choice, of course, and Freezepop is likely to prove a soft addiction for urbanites with an unexplained penchant for twizzlers and nerds.
-- Chikako Sassa, MIT Tech

In the noisy town of Musicland, the red line is ringing, an emergency call put through to synthpop heroes Freezepop. As Liz Enthusiasm (Freezepop’s singer-songwriter) picks up the phone, the muffled voice of Musicland’s Mayor calls out: “Help! Nobody’s having any fun!”
“ Hmmmm,” thinks Liz, “No fun? This must be the work of corporate moneymakers, ruining the face of music everywhere.” In a flash, she’s sliding down some neon colored equivalent of the bat-pole and waking up fellow band-mates (the Duke of Pannekoeken and the Other Sean T. Drinkwater), quickly spilling out wacky lyrics as the Duke programs a chorus of techno on a Yamaha QY-70, the Other Sean playing the synthesized chords.
While this may only be an imaginary recreation of the writing process of Freezepop, the essential remains true: this superb group is out to save the world from bad music. With their wacky second release Fancy Ultra-Fresh, Enthusiasm strikes back with 12 wildly eclectic synthpop songs. The bizarre love of Freezepop’s world is so hopeful and uplifting that it’s hard to notice flaws, although techno haters will probably want to skip this group entirely.
The components of any Freezepop song contain an invigorating MIDI base, riddled with spacey sound effects and layer with synthesized vocal tracks that allow Liz to sing in pitch-perfect harmony with herself. But it’s the extra ingredient that really pulls each track together: love. This musical trio seems to have so much fun putting each track together that their songs quickly become addictive, if not positively haunting. “Outer Space,” in particular, stands out to show the progression of Freezepop’s music since their ’99 debut.
Like any delicious dessert, Freezepop doesn’t have a deeper meaning, but it’s a rich and filling musical treat, each bite giving off an entirely new sensation that takes the somewhat limited synthpop genre to its very limits.
-- Aaron Riccio, Binghamton University Pipe Dream

Freezepop’s Fancy Ultra-Fresh is the kind of CD that grows on you whether you want it to or not. Mixing Devo, Aqua, and every other synth-pop band together, Freezepop is kitchy 80’s nostalgia that will get stuck in your brain and make you do the robot for the duration of the disc. It’s like if the band from the end of Revenge of the Nerds cut an album. And it’s so damned embarassing that I actually dig it.
-- Night Watchman, Tastes Like Chicken

This is a veritable rollercoaster of high-energy synthpop. Ranging from frantic club hits like “I Am Not Your Gameboy” and “Stakeout” to slow and beautiful numbers like “Outer Space” and “Emotions and Photons” (possibly my favourite, mainly because of the brilliant vocoder in the chorus), the album has something for everyone. Sometimes it’s a matter of hit and miss, but the supersharp production and funny lyrics put me in a good party mood. And I guess that is the mission for these three youngsters from America who call themselves Liz Enthusiasm, the Duke of Pannekoeken and Sean T. Drinkwater. I suspect those names might be fake.
It’s always fun to see some bands breaking through the almost impenetrable wall of so-so electroclash and retro-synth these days, but Freezepop has that certain something that makes it worthwhile to check out. If you can get past the extremely bad – probably intentionally – title "Fancy Ultra-Fresh" of course.
-- Johan Carlsson, releasemagazine.net

In the future, it's all about catchy robotic synthpop dance music. Think Devo meets Aqua and Ladytron, Freezepop is full of so much bloopy beepy synthpop goodness you'll be reaching for the OtterPops and Pop Rocks in no time. A celebration of nifty radness from somewhere left of Jupiter(or Boston), this is the kind of band that can reference everything from ebay and Super Mario to 80's sitcoms and shopping at the mall(and have it all make sense) Any band that puts their email and site URL into a song rocks with me. At first listen one might think of this as a novelty gimmick band, but behind the kitchy lyrics and plastic aestetic lies something special.
This is Freezepop's second full length album, the other two cds being remix EP's. The sound has definately matured with noticeable layering, yet still maintaining it's minimalistic core nexus. For me it's pretty much on par with their 2002 debut album Freezepop Forever, instantly becoming another favorite of mine. Freezepop has been spreading their unqiue brand of 8-bit electroclash far and wide with a variety of US and European tours. They even recently did a remix for Apoptygma Berzerk, and have had songs on a variety of Playstation2 games.
I'm hoping Freezepop can get more of the exposure they deserve, as I really see this band appealing to everyone from the electronic music crowd to the folks at an anime gamer convention. In an age where it's all about being emo screamo, it's nice to see a band coming from a time where it was all about having fun.
-- cory, pockybot.com

Freezepop - Fancy Ultra Fresh Review v 1.0: Having followed the group for many years, I must say that new Freezepop releases feel less like the next album from a band than upgrades to a computer operating system, this year’s Fancy Ultra Fresh proving no exception.  F.U.F. (call it Freezepop 2.0) retains all the best features of F-pop’s previous LPs, EPs, and singles - gleefully cheap synthesizer sounds overacting, Liz Enthusiasm’s voice intoning witty lyrics in varying shades of monotone - and even a few of the same songs, in remixed form (Stakeout, Manipulate).  Beyond that, a few subtle but significant improvements have been made to the Freezepop source code - the new record runs a lot more smoothly overall, with vastly improved recording quality and increased musical ambition.  Once again, Freezepop successfully stretch what should be a one-joke concept farther than it deserves to go, from the quiet ambient chamber-pop of “Emotions and Photons” to the relentless electro-rock of “Bike Thief”..
Freezepop Fancy Ultra Fresh review v1.1…
Having followed the group for many years, I must say that Freezepop songs are like sushi.  Truly discerning connoisseurs will delight in the subtle variations in flavor and texture between Taro squid and Saba mackerel.  However, for those who eat it only occasionally, or tried it once and hated it, it all just tastes like raw fish.  Such is the case with the tracks on the new LP Fancy Ultra Fresh.  Fans of the band may notice that Freezepop have shifted their emphasis a bit from ironic humor (there’s nothing on F.U.F. as double-over-laughing funny as old favorites “Robotron 2000” or “Shark Attack”) to skillful musicianship (nothing in F-Pop’s back catalogue pounds as hard as “Parlez-Vous Freezepop?” or sounds as lush as “Outer Space”).  But, like I said, only the most discriminating connoisseur will notice.  Those who found previous Freezepop releases a bit too precious, cheesy, or self-consciously clever will probably take one quick listen and, finding all these qualities present in abundance, hit “stop” and move on to something else.
Freezepop Fancy Ultra Fresh review v1.5…
Having followed the group for many years, I must say that Freezepop themselves are like recurring characters on Saturday Night Live.  They come out, do their thing, make you laugh - then return a few weeks later, do a slight variation of the same thing, and maybe make you laugh again.  So far, after 2 LPs and 2 EPs, F-pop have yet to wear out their welcome (though “That Boy Is All About Fun” off F.U.F.  sounds so much like “Freezepop Forever” on their first album, you can’t help but wonder).  Whether Freezepop will, like Wayne & Garth, keep it going for half a dozen sketches and two feature films, or else grow increasingly irritating like Stuart Smalley still remains to be seen.  All I know is that I’ve no plans to uninstall Freezepop 2.0 from my home stereo system any time soon.
Rating: 9 (out of 10)
-- Emil Hyde, 100% Unnatural

These days, synth pop isn't exactly setting the airwaves ablaze. In fact, despite Daft Punk, there hasn't been a decent mainstream example in years. Enter Freezepop, perhaps the best bet for the future of the genre. They made their mark the Sony music games Frequency and Amplitude with a pair of saccharine tracks popping with geeky charm and space age sounds ... With fancy ultra-fresh, humor, catchy synth hooks and robot chic melt into an interesting and infectious sound.
-- Chris Carl, ign.com

Hi-Five My Remix

Blippy beats? Check. Vocoder? Check. Synthesizers? Check. Witty lyrics? Check.Voila Freezepop, a Boston synth pop trio founded by the Duke of Pannekoeken (a.k.a. of Belgian Waffles, a.k.a. of Candied Apples), Liz Enthusiasm and Sean T. Drinkwater. The Duke is an electronic gadget aficionado (and an avid name changer) so one hot summer four years ago he came up with the idea of creating a band around a small Yamaha device called qy-70. Liz and Sean joined in and Freezepop was formed.
After already generating an EP and a full-length CD, Freezepop are back with an album chock full of remixes. And this is just a teaser for the second full-length due out early next year. As will later become apparent, the VIP in this cast of characters is the song called “Super-Sprøde,” an ode to Freezepop's fans. It is already a favorite among live show devotees. It has also been released as a part of the video game, Amplitude (the new and improved version of Frequency), for PlayStation2. “Super-Sprøde” means “super crunchy” in Danish and apparently has nothing to do with the way Freezepop followers, um, taste. The members of the band just thought that the word sounded interesting and decided to make a song around it, dedicating it to their “crazy fans.”
The lyrics are tongue-in-cheek, thanking the fans for believing in the band (“You took a risk/ and bought our disc”) but at the same time mildly mocking their geeky ways (“You made your freq/ so uber-chic”). As with every other Freezepop song, this one features an infectiously catchy tune crafted by the Duke. After listening to the song seven times (original + six remixes -- as mentioned earlier, the VIP of the disc), the melody will be stuck in your brain no matter what you do and you will find yourself spelling it out with Liz: S-U-P-E-R, S-U-P-E-R, until you are ready to blow your head off or commit other forms of self-mutilation just to get the song out of your mind. Although, sometimes listening to the song again actually helps …
The "Future Bible Heroes Remix" and the "Veronica Black Morpheus Remix" made “Super-Sprøde” more atmospheric and goth sounding (and somewhat more eurotrash-club friendly). The "Kodomo Remix" made it more dynamic by giving it a Fischerspooner-style makeover with sudden stops and starts and quick changes of beat. Livesexact's "Pure Remix" was also very interesting because the artist used Liz E.’s spelled-out letters to forge “pure” rather than “super.”
Soviet's treatment, the aptly named "Super-Death Remix," made the song completely unrecognizable. After hearing the song six times, it was refreshing to hear something entirely different. Soviet removed the vocals, added some fast and heavy beats, a whole new melody, and there it was, the most interesting remix of them all. According to Chris Otchy, one of the Soviets behind this remix, they also featured sampled dialogue from a '70s-era Vietnam War documentary and screams generated by the one and only Jack Nicholson. You will be puzzled, you will wonder where Liz’s vocals went, and after letting go of what you expected, you will love it.
The "Donnerschlag Remix," cleverly done by inter:sect, made Freezepop's “Stakeout” even catchier by adding a whole new melody. Who knew a higher level of catchiness was even possible with a Freezepop song! “Stakeout” has not been released yet in its original version (other than the video version available on the Freezepop web site), but it is also a live show favorite. It will be featured on the upcoming CD though, so you better make sure to get it.
The rest of the songs remixed on this CD have all been previously released (either on Freezepop Forever or the Fashion Impression Function EP.) “Tracey Gold” features vocals by the Duke himself and is an ode to the actress ofGrowing Pains fame. The "Fairlight Children Remix" accentuates the already inherant bounce of the tune and adds some synthy layers. “Freezepop Forever,” a song in which each member of the band is "assigned" a personality, is remixed by the Duke himself. The "Ionian Remix" rendered “Freezepop Forever” much faster and more digital with some background noises computers would make if they were cranky.
Judging by the previously unreleased tracks featured on this disc, the next full-length looks very promising. Freezepop are staying true to their futuristic bubbly pop form, playful lyrics, and catchy tunes. In a day and age when everything is meant to be ironic, pretentious, and somewhat contrived, it is refreshing to hear music that is honest, fun, and has a sense of humor.
The only weakness of this CD (well, besides a couple of remixes that shall remain nameless) is that one song is featured in its seven incarnations. Hearing one song this many times -- no matter how cute and fun -- is bound to make it seem cumbersome. Maybe, if the track listing had been done differently, the CD would not resemble a hastily assembled remix collection. The logical solution would have been to group all the “Super-Sprøde” versions and place them at the beginning or the end of the CD, and then put the others on the second half. And maybe call it a “Super-Sprøde " maxi single plus bonus tracks? Nevertheless, this CD is worth sampling, especially as a taste of bouncier and blippier things to come.
(S-U-P-E-R, S-U-P-E-R … make it stop already!!!)
-- Jelena Veljkovic, earlash.com

As a rule, remix albums are not assembled with the casual listener in mind. They're for an artist's more hardcore fans -- the sort of die-hard enthusiasts who think so highly of an artist that they insist on owning everything that he/she has out. Hi-Five My Remix is no exception; this remix album is designed for hardcore fans of Boston's delightfully '80s-minded Freezepop. In various interviews, the New Englanders have downplayed their '80s influences -- and on many of these remixes, they try to make their music relevant to the club/dance scene of the early 2000s. Nonetheless, Freezepop's '80s fixation still comes through loud and clear, and the campy, good-natured sense of fun that they bring to "Stakeout," "Freezepop Forever," and "Tracey Gold" takes you back to a time when Ronald Reagan was president, Fast Times at Ridgemont High was in the theaters, and MTV was playing Berlin, the Human League, Soft Cell, and Duran Duran (the sort of artists who have influenced Freezepop). And why shouldn't Freezepop be having a love affair with the '80s? A lot of infectious music came out of that decade. Most of the tunes that are remixed on this 2003 release are only heard once; however, there are no less than seven versions of the catchy "Super-Sprøde." Do casual listeners really need to hear seven different versions of "Super-Sprøde"? Of course not. But again, Hi-Five My Remix wasn't designed for casual listeners, who would better off starting out with 2001's Forever. Enjoyable but not essential, this CD is strictly for the seasoned Freezepop collector.
-- Alex Henderson, allmusic guide

The much-anticipated remix CD by the Boston electro trio has finally arrived. Freezepop have existed alongside other American electro acts like Soviet and Winterbrief charting their own path since 1999. Freezepop represent all that is good about the electronic underground: they write great songs, experiment sonically, and most importanly have a sense of humor. This remix EP showcases infectious pop and electronic experimentation in various doses on many remixes from artists like Stephan Groth, Future Bible Heroes, Soviet, Livesexact Bunnyhug, Bass Kittens, Boothnavy and much more.
The opening track "Super-Sprøde" is an energetic electro romp with cute lyrics and pumping hooks. The charming voice of Freezepop, Liz Enthusiasm, delivers a message to fans by throwing references to Target, the internet, and underage fans. Freezepop excel in writing good songs that stay in your head for days (i.e. "Freezepop Forever") and remind you that this band is a pop powerhouse.
The remixes are worthwhile except for a few duds most notably the Future Bible Heroes remix which sounds flat and dull. The better remix by Fairlight Children of the Freezepop classic "Tracey Gold" pumps some chunky electro-disco energy into an infectious tune. The looping bell sequences that starts the Fairlight Children mix is trippy and exciting too and gets the listener anxious for the chunky addictive hook ... Chris Child mixes another Freezepop song (earlier remixing "Stakeout" on the Intellectos Manifesto II) to add a cyber-punk vibe to Super-Sprøde. The Boothnavy remix aptly called the Tubeway remix recalls Gary Numan's seminal proto electro punk outfit with added fun on the older track "Bike Thief." The track later erupts into a barrage of guitars and sonic terror which gives the remix an added burst of attitude. The Bass Kittens add a kitsch element to one of the more sentimental Freezepop tracks. The Veronica Black Morpheus remix which includes member Sean T. Drinkwater is a sonic sinister workout showcasing fat chugging grooves and breaks. Sadly, the Soviet remix is unimaginative and wallows in a trebly static loop that sounds painfully retro.
The ending salvo "Freezepop Forever" is given a lethal injection of speed which would make any cynical face smile it is so damn charming and infectious. The beauty of this remix CD is that the songs are pushed sonically while the pop hooks and melodies flow too. Aspiring electro artists take note and follow the lead of Freezepop instead of wallowing in turgid synth-pop. Freezepop are determined and driven to stake their claim to the electro-pop throne and they are on their way.
-- Fitz James, Intellectos.com

video game reviews
Just as Hollywood is finally seeing financial possibilities in doing business with video game companies (witness the incredible collaboration between Warner Bros. and Shiny Entertainment on the upcoming "Enter the Matrix" games), music labels are starting to understand the benefits of forging similar relationships. The soundtracks to the first two "Tony Hawk" games (before the series started licensing more mainstream artists) brought awareness of several smaller bands to a throng of gamers. Freezepop, a retro-techno act, was under the radar when one of its tracks appeared in "Frequency." The game exposure gave the group exposure and sales, and it has submitted a track for "Amplitude," which is sure to create even more fans of its kitschy Kraftwerk-inspired sound.
-- Levi Buchanan, The Chicago Tribune, March 7, 2003

The music's just the base metal, there for you to mould into something else. And some of it you'll love, some of it you'll loathe, and by your second week in Amplitude's world you'll know it all off by heart. Edge can't stop singing Freezepop. Plus ca change...
-- Edge Magazine, June 2003

Fashion Impression Function
Indie Synthpop: Falling somewhere between the 80's electro pop of the human league and the 90's indie rock aesthetic of stereolab is the aptly named Freezepop. Fashion Impression Function is a great EP of new material along with remixes of their first album Freezepop Forever, which successfully continues the retro new wave movement that bands such as Ladytron and The Faint have championed. But what sets Freezepop apart from their peers is their ability to produce simple yet enjoyable synthpop with an undeniable and contagious playfulness. Comprised of members with monikers like Liz Enthusiasm, The Duke of Candied Apples, and the Other Sean T Drinkwater, the Boston based trio makes it quite difficult not to crack a smile at
the mere mention of the band. Musically, Freezepop's brand of light hearted synthpop is downright infectious as bubbly sequences are met with bouncy beats and Liz Enthusiasm's fluttering vocals as head on the opener "Manipulate." On the catchy "Lazy," swirling synths and a pulsing rhythm serve as a foundation for Liz's innocent tribute to staying home and doing nothing. The included remixes don't do much in terms of genre hopping, but they do keep the upbeat mood intact. "Robotron 2002" offers a slightly darker feel with its distorted beat and vocoded vocal, while "Science Genius Girl [Lameboy Mix]" gives the song a fun twist with added blips and bleeps resulting in a sound not too far removed from the old Super Mario Brothers videogames. Freezepop may not be the most ground breaking or the most serious band, but their ability to combine the cold electronics of synthpop with a fun, carefree attitude makes Fashion Impression Function a
very enjoyable listen.
--Brian Lumauig, Outburn Magazine

They sound like an unholy union of Gary Numan and the Waitresses, and they're far more entertaining than "That '80s Show." Experience the retro-electro wonder that is Freezepop... Lead singer Liz Enthusiasm has perfected the detached, bored voice of 1980s pop. It hovers restlessly over fizzy Human League-inspired synth lines from the band's trusty Yamaha.
-- Christopher Muther, The Boston Globe

A tongue-in-cheek but true take on early-'80s synth pop music a la early Depeche Mode, Yaz, Human League, and -- dare I say it? -- the Kitchens of Distinction. It's not so much parody as it is selfless homage. Freezepop comprises the Duke of Candied Apples, Liz Enthusiasm, and the "other" Sean T. Drinkwater, wth Duke and Enthusiasm seeming to be the true aficionadoes. "Lazy"'s vocals, courtesy of the dreamy Enthusiasm, remind me of Papas Fritas, which is a nice vocal nod, and the overall vibe is rather sleepy and happily sluggish. The beats aren't overly aggressive, the bleeps and swells are tastefully placed, and these songs could easily be twee pop indie-rock anthems were it not for their couching in Yamaha-fueled synth pop. The male vocals on "Shark Attack" are a nice touch, riffing off of Soft Cell and White Town (a modren reference!). Many of the songs are mixes and remixes by Kodomo, Commodore Vic, and others. There's even an All Your Base Are Belong to Us remix, ably taking Freezepop out of the past and into the future. Again, this is much more than a kitschy return to the past. Freezepop's retro reproductions -- even the Pizzicato Five-like remix by Kodomo -- are honest, earnest, and appreciative kicks in the pant of Synthpop. I'll be listening to this a lot. Robotron vs. K-Rad. Servotron vs. Pracky Pranky. Brilliant.
-- Heath Row's Media Diet

With a Yamaha qy-70 sequencer, melodies sweeter but less carcinogenic than saccharine, and the notion that synth-pop rocks, Boston trio Freezepop have staked a claim on the retro-futuristic inner cyborg of your heart. On their EP, Fashion Impression Function, The Duke of Candied Apples, The Other Sean T. Drinkwater (also of Lifestyle), and Liz Enthusiasm drop four new synth gems rich with zoomy Zirconiac beats made voluptuous by vocoder and five remixes from their debut album, Freezepop Forever. This music is what V.I.N. Cent from The Black Hole would’ve heard in his sweet circuit-filled head. And while Freezepop may have a song (“Science Genius Girl,” found here in remixed form) on a PlayStation 2 video game (Frequency), they’re Atari all the way. Even more rooted in Kraftwork and ‘80s clubland than Stephin Merritt (of Future Bible Heroes and Magnetic Fields) or Tuscadero, songs like “Manipulate” and “Shark Attack” are dance floor ready. And they benefit from the warmth of Liz Enthusiasm’s oft-times tongue-in-cheeky delivery (even when in monotone.) “Lazy” is perhaps the first anthem dedicated to lethargy, and “Starlight” is straight from your home keyboard’s memory. These songs are full of DIY charm. Perhaps that’s why the remixes tend to pale in comparison. The fancy new-fangled beats often get in the way of the original songs’ kitschy magnetism. The biggest question facing Freezepop is can they continue to innovate a retro sound? Fashion Impression Function shows that they have the potential. Stagnation can cause freezerburn and even cherry freezepops taste funny with a protective covering of ice. However, a rolling synth band gathers no rust. As one-time techno innovator Neil Young (in)famous for the vocoder heavy Trans says, “Let’s Roll.” May Freezepop’s bleeps never rust.
-- JR Walsh, Soundcheck magazine

...Their first album, Freezepop Forever, was a celebration of that irreverent fun, and here on this EP, they take a few steps forward. The first 4 tracks on here are new songs that lean a bit more on the serious side of things. First off the sounds that the Duke of Candied Apples emits from the QY-70 are much fuller here, with a greater range of the sonic spectrum being expressed. All of the music comes out of that sequencer, and Duke's learning curve has spiked, as there is some real bass under the cotton candy melodies. Liz Enthusiasm brings a more melancholy approach to her lyrics, and such emotional heft makes the uncontained joy of the older tracks stand out more in a live setting. Lest you think that the band is giving you the short shrift with just 4 songs, this EP will more than tide you over. Included in this package are 5 remixes (4 from the Forever album) by Chris Childs, Intersect, DJ Nebula, Commodore Vic, and Robotkid. And then to top things off, a Flash video for “Freezepop Forever” and a Quicktime video for “Tender Lies.” With a package this comprehensive, for those interested in delving into the bands sound, this is actually a better place to start that the album itself.
-- Wally Cassotto, Northeast Performer

...As was established on Freezepop Forever, Liz Enthusiasm's vocal delivery is silky smooth and seemingly as far removed from everything as possible. It is as if Ms. Enthusiasm chugs a two-liter of the 1980's prior to each recording session. The Duke gets his obligatory song to himself on "Shark Attack" and it is everything that one has come to expect from this witty character. If anyone could create a coherent, well-executed song about sharks and Wheel Of Fortune, it's the Duke. Although his voice is never heard, the listener is constantly assured of the presence of the other Sean T. Drinkwater because the video included on the CD assures us that he really is in the band.
This CD does not come without a warning though. Whatever you do, DO NOT, under any circumstances listen to the "hidden" 10th track. It is supposedly a 1963 jingle for Sprite, but I suspect that it is really part of an evil mind-control plot started by someone in the band. This song is ludicrously addictive. More addictive than sex, more addictive than cocaine, more addictive than food that's bad for you, more addictive than making fun of George W. Bush, it is THAT addictive. If you listen to this track you will be sucked in and eventually you will be found, nigh comatose, in a chair next to your stereo after having this song on repeat for an untold number of days.
So, go give this disc a shot, it's more than worth your money, just be leery of the "sprite." It's a little too good. You've been warned.
-- Erich Leas, Straight from the Pit

Music has been operating in the future for so long tht things we thought sounded out of this world five years ago now sound like a pastiche of a million different sounds that have come before. Freezepop are the type of band that cross-genre name checking was invented for, i.e. Dubstar sings Bis/early Magnetic Fields new wave tunes with nearly all of the biting wit, bitter sense of loss, and riotous good fun that one might expect from the mix-up. The result is not so avant as Takako Minekawa or stapled together like Solex, because it's way too much fun. Anyone who says there isn't much musical diversity in Boston hasn't seen this unique and, and they're missing out. This EP, made up mostly of remixes, is a good way to subject yourself to the audio mind control of the Freezepop.
-- Lukeo5000, The Weekly Dig

This is the follow up to Freezepop's debut album, "Freezepop Forever". It features four (really five, but I'll get to that later) new songs, five remixes, and two videos from the previous album. Each of the four listed new tracks is very consistent with the previous album, both lyrically and musically. Somewhat simple, yet incredibly infectious melodies and lyrics combine to form wonderful, addictive pop music. "Lazy" was a instant favorite track, and once I listened closely, I really loved "Shark Attack" too. It took a couple of listens to figure out how the chorus was relevant to the verses.... Here's the only clue I'm giving: Wheel Of Fortune. 
     As for the remixes, most of them were also very enjoyable. The only mix here I didn't enjoy too much was the mix of "Manipulate." It was far too DJ-esque for my taste. But all the others were excellent. My favorite has to be the Lameboy mix of "Science Genius Girl'... This is just such a cool idea! Gameboy-style music on decent speakers doesn't sound bad at all.. 
     The unlisted track, Sprite, is really a jingle for the soft drink.. which if Sprite was smart they'd pay Freezepop a bundle of money for, and use in a commercial. This song is so stinkin' addicitive.. I've found myself walking around at work all the time singing this song to myself since I heard it. Great! 
     In short, this is a excellent follow-up to the first Freezepop release. Now if I could just get my hands on the European version of the first album (which has a bonus track..). Highly Recommended!!!!
-- Jason Baker, www.synthpopreviews.webprovider.com

If you're already a fan of Freezepop you know that to appreciate Freezepop is to appreciate the lack of pretension in their music (it is electronic pop minimalism) and to appreciate the quirky pretension and humor in their mostly tongue-in-cheek topics and lyrics. Freezepop writes music that matches the ideas in their words and ideas, not the other way around. Simple melodies and playful ideas are wrapped around seamless synthpop productions. They're recommended if you love the music of Arling & Cameron, Joy Electric or the Book of Love.  "Forever" (2000) was chockfull of glimmering minimalist electropop melodies playing second fiddle to singer/lyricist Liz Enthusiasm's musings about the things that are important to her and her life. Musically, Freezepop is brilliant in creating catchy pop melodies in a minimalist mode (they boast to using two instruments on their first LP). They carry on in this tradition with their new set here... This EP brings 4 new songs, 4 remixes of songs from "Forever", a remix of a new song ("Manipulate"), a bonus track AND 2 videos by the band (!). The first new track is "Manipulate" (also remixed to great effect); this track is Liz's description of the cunning behind a manipulative person. Liz assures us she not far behind in knowing what's up. "Lazy" is a great lyric imaginatively realized in music. Liz talks about the course of a day slowly rising from bed "getting out of bed's no fun/stay in bed with me eating candy bars and watching TV". The band matches the lyrical idea with lazy blips and bloops. "Shark Attack" is either Sean's or The Duke of Candied Apples (who take on vocals) twisted fantasy about being on "Wheel of Fortune" (!). The music takes on a frenzied electro-thrash to match that of a, er shark attack. The final new song presented on "Fashion Impression Function" is "Starlight". A pretty arpeggiated melody pulls us through Liz's description of the breakup between two lovers "I watched you walk away/footsteps on the stairs/I smell you on the pillow". All four of the new songs are first rate Freezepop material; they match the high points on "Forever" easily. As a treat, this EP features remixes of gems from "Forever" including "Japanese Song" (not a literal translation, the title is in Japanese!), "Robotron 2002", "Plastic Stars" and "Science Genius Girl". These remixes will please any fan who wondered where the minimalist mixes of the LP cuts would go if they were revved up for the dance floor and pushed towards other dance remix genres. Very satisfying. Overall the "Fashion Impression Function" EP is a tasty package for the returning fan and a fabulous introduction to Freezepop for the new inductee! I love 'em, you will too... who doesn't love a Freezepop?
-- DJ, candyforbadchildren.com

On Fashion Impression Function, the 2002 follow-up EP to the debut, the band cram four new songs, five remixes, a hidden track, and two bonus videos (for "Tender Lies" and "Freezepop Forever") onto a disc. Of the new material, the opener "Manipulate" is easily one of the band's strongest, catchiest tunes with a keyboard line straight out of 1985. The remixes vary in quality -- some choose to merely reinterpret the songs, while others push them closer to their boundaries. That makes for more unwieldy (and slightly harder hitting, though less focused) versions of "Manipulate" (here in its "Machinate Mix") and "Plastic Stars" ("Commodore Vic's Sleeping Dog's Mix"). There are also two excellently gimmicky remixes: "Robotron 2002" appears in an "All Your Base Are Belong to Us" mix, lifting music and words from the cult classic Zero Wing video game. The poorly translated, nonsensical "All your base are belong to us" phrase and the jerky, mechanical voice that spoke it in the game are both laid over a mix of "Robotron 2020" that sounds like its from the soundtrack to an 8-bit video game. Yet another remix, Robotkid's Lameboy Mix of "Science Genius Girl", embodies the same sonic similarity to classic 1980s home video games. It's enough to make you want to unwrap your plastic controllers, slump in a video chair, and play a game of Contra.
     The music that Freezepop is making is so uncool, so out-of-vogue, so far from the current alternative rock landscape of Limp Bizkits and Linkin Parks that many of today's college students -- kids old enough to remember the early days of MTV but too old to bother watching it now -- are rediscovering the better half of the '80s. And judging by college radio support for Freezepop in their Boston home and the band's nomination as best US band in the 2002 American Synthpop Awards, the kids nostalgic for the days when New Wave ruled the airwaves are paying attention.
-- Jason Damas, popmatters.com

Freezepop Forever
Don't let the trashy, video-game sounds or monotone vocals fool you - Freezepop Forever is a work of genius. Like a cabal of mad geneticists, Freezepop cross-breed the seemingly incompatible genres of New Wave electro-cheese and Indie girrrl-rock to create a record that's equal parts silly and sublime. The songs on Freezepop Forever fall somewhere between Devo at their weirdest and the Sleater Kinney at their most radio-friendly, and are arguably better than anything either of those bands have produced to date.  
     ...Forever doesn't waste any time getting to the good stuff.  The first track, "Hare-Brained Scheme" comes off like a low-budget remake of Tchaikowsky's "1812 overture". This overblown backdrop makes the narrator's innocent attempts to play matchmaker ("I've got a friend and she's a beauty / I've got a friend and he's a cutie...") seem more like the machinations of an evil Svengali.  Next up the instant classic "Plastic Stars" which features a simple, sing-song melody that never gets old, and lyrics that burn themselves indelibly into the listener's brain.  
     Though none of the other tracks shine as brightly as "Plastic Stars" (and, frankly, it would be unreasonable to expect them to), there are many more excellent moments on Freezepop Forever.  "Robotron 2000" and "Science Genius Girl" are just as funny on the third, fourth, and fifth play as they are on the first, and the chorus of "Freezepop Forever" will echo in your mind 'til your dying day. "Tender Lies", meanwhile, is more deserving of radio play than most of the songs that pass for hit singles these days.
     No, Freezepop Forever is not perfect.  Nor is it the kind of "serious" record that's going to define a generation or change music forever or whatever else the Beatles supposedly did with Sergeant Pepper. But Freezepop Forever is probably as good an album as most bands can hope to produce in their careers, and that Freezepop managed to create it using primitive beeps and bleeps is a testament to their creativity. If Freezepop find a way to one-up this album the next time around, I won't just be surprised - I'll be stunned.
-- Emil Hyde, 100% Unnatural

For all ye olde indie rockers jonesing for that Tiger Trap/Tuscadero-esque sound, Freezepop have arrived with your fix. They are the type of band you may want to hate at first like ABBA or The Strokes, but can't resist devouring until you have a stomachache. They're like a combination of Human League and My Little Pony. All of their sounds come from a Twinkie-sized box called a QY70, and vocalist Liz Enthusiasm's voice will make you feel as though someone had just shot you up with a lethal dose of pixie dust gathered from a chocolate-covered honey cloud.
-- Lesley Arfin, Vice magazine

Freezepop are like Boston's Baxendale, Motormark or Vic Twenty, producing some magnificent electronic pop songs that have gone far too unnoticed until now. Elefant are about to release their debut album in Europe, which makesthis a perfect time to review the album I had to import from the US. If you know my predisposition towards electropop, then you can guess that I love this record. In fact, it's one of the best such records since Baxendale's 'You Will Have Your Revenge'.
It starts well enough. 'Harebrained Scheme' is Liz Enthusiasm's recounting of her attempt to matchmake her beautiful friends, and it's laced with enough keyboards, drum machines and electronic noises that you wouldn't
believe the entire album was constructed only with a mam vocoder and a yamaha qy70.
'Plastic Stars' is one of my favorite love songs ever. The line: 'You say even my toothpaste tastes sweet/ when you're lying next to me' is gorgeous, and any song about lying next to someone under a sky of plastic glowstars can't help but be perfect. Then 'Science Genius Girl' is slick, danceable, and sublime, taking you deeper into Freezepop's glamorous, fairy-lit, synthesized world. The song is compulsive and addictive, one of those tunes that wedges itself in your brain and never, ever lets go. 'When I clone a human being/ he will want to hold my hand/ when I clone a human being/ he will be a member of my band' should be considered banal, but here it sounds like genius.
Freezepop are ambassadors of the 21st century with this fantastic space age pop. 'Robotron 2000' is seemingly an apocalyptic tribute to the faceless robotic hero of the aging video game Robotron (anyone remember that?). The album closes with 'Freezepop Forever', the best introduction to the band you ever heard. It's pure, unadulterated fun, slightly silly, and always good to dance to. Like everything about the band, quite frankly. Brilliant.
-- Paul Haswell, strange-fruit.co.uk

I had downloaded a clip from this band years ago and liked it, but never followed up on it. Who knows why this sometimes happens, but it does. Then not long ago while listening to a comp CD I swapped with someone, I discovered the track I liked most on it was also them. That did it. Only Amazon had the title anymore as it's getting older, so this is how this whole adventure started. (at that it was only available as buy it "new/used". I had never used that before at amazon, but I got 2 things that day this way, they were both in excellent shape, came sooner than the amazon order did, and cost a bit less than amazons regular price. Don't be afraid to use the service, it was great) As for this album, I really like it a lot. There are a number of early 80's bands they sound like, most you probably wouldn't know so I won't bother. From sweet pop chart numbers like Plastic Stars or Tender Lies to the retro Japanese kitsch of Tennis Boyfriend (which is also the included video) this album has it all. I really like the lyrics in Robotron 2000 which has the refrain; "The worlds in chaos now, it's Y2K, he wants me in that special way, he whispers in his robot voice - (robot voice) I'll keep you safe today and make you feel ok". Like you would expect of the genre, it's recorded very well, sounds great thru good gear and it's just a delight in every possible way. All their songs are written on a Yamaha QY-70 as well and I saw you can get them on ebay used for $150-200. The funniest thing is they are very small and run on batteries, which somehow seems very appropriate for this band. If you're like me and didn't get this yet, don't wait any longer. It's one of the best of it's genre for sure.
-- indiespinzone.com

Now this is heaps of fun ... really catchy electropop that contains elements of cute pop and retro-futuristic kitsch, but somehow it manages to avoid sounding sickeningly sugary or naff. They create their songs using a handheld battery powered sequencer and also use a vocoder. Some great imaginative lyrics here, like in Science Genius Girl, where Liz Enthusiasm sings about cloning a member of her band, and in Robotron 2000 she sings about falling in love with a robot! Tennis Boyfriend, the song with Japanese lyrics that appeared on the Know Your Enemy compilation, is also included here. These songs had me grinning from ear to ear! Really addictive songs that demand repeated listens! This album really is a breath of fresh air, I can't recommend it enough!
-- blissaquamarine.net

Hailing from Boston, Freezepop made in their Freezepop Forever album of 2001 a minor classic of stripped back synth Pop songs that carries all the promise and ill-fated tragedies of the 1980s wrapped up in a laser beam, pointed through jump-up techno and aimed at your brittle heart. Freezepop Forever is full of knowing nods to the history the group must surely know about only through the archaeology of Pop: singles picked up in thrift-stores and relatives' attics, albums reissued by someone determined to keep a fire burning somewhere. Which might sound slightly disparaging, but it shouldn't, because really Freezepop sound fantastic, and I've not been able to get their tunes out of my head for weeks. There's the match maker techno beat of 'Harebrained Scheme'; the wildly bopping 'T DJ', ducking and diving through the tunnels of the subway, addicted to the electricity humming from the third rail; the icicles popping at the heart of 'Tracey Gold'; the knowing Pop self-mythologizing album closing 'Freezepop Forever'; the bona-fide Pop Hit blast of 'Summer Boy', all teenaged summer loves long lost and longed for, whose chorus of 'Summer Boy, the sun is hot. Summer Boy, and so are you' is just too damn stupid to not love unconditionally. Best of all though is 'Tender Lies' which is a lovely song where the wonderfully named Liz Enthusiasm gets to actually sing instead of half-talking in the kind of half-clichéd robotic rhythms that the rest of the album mainly relies on. 'Tender Lies' is like a lost Strawberry Switchblade track, reverberating with the same kind of cracked and flawed plastic beauty that fed through songs like '10 James Orr Street', 'Being Cold' or 'Who Knows What Love Is.' All of which probably sounds like a nightmare of candy-floss circuits to some, but to others, like me today, that sounds like some kind of heaven.
-- Alistair Fitchett, tangents.co.uk

Hmmm. Here's the problem I'm having at the start of this review: it's difficult to know whether Boston's Freezepop are a trio or a four-piece.
An unlikely source of confusion? OK, well, there are three actual people, but then again the Yamaha QY-70 band-in-a-box hand-held sequencer is pretty darn important to their sound. In fact, it •is• their sound, in that Freezepop Forever is, remarkably, a pop record made entirely with that one tiny piece of equipment - just that, and the vocals.
So how boring is that, across a whole album? Actually, it isn't in the slightest bit boring. Fantastic song writing and a desire to stretch the capabilities of their deliberately limited kit to the absolute limit go to ensure that Freezepop have created a synthpop classic with this release.
Following in the footsteps of the likes of the Silicon Teens and other early Mute Records bands, they write traditional, very catchy pop songs with hooks and melodies a-plenty, but it doesn't end there. The attention to detail on the drum programming as well as the synth lines is truly remarkable, and all in all this record offers an object lesson to those people who are under the impression that you need a mountain of the latest flashy gear before you can even begin to consider the possibility that an idea or two might also be helpful.
An antidote to the lack of fun and humour all too present in so much current electronic music, if you ever feel like throwing off the shackles of techno, ambient or IDM and letting them fall to the floor with a loud POP! (unlikely that falling shackles would make such a noise, but never mind), Freezepop Forever is exactly what you need.
-- em411.com

Freezepop is a perfect name for this band, as they play that kind of cold, sterile, danceable, and beautiful Kraftwerk-derived pop mastered by the likes of The Human League, Men Without Hats, and The Pet Shop Boys in the ‘80s; currently enjoying a renaissance in indie circles thanks to the likes of Ladytron, Add N to (X), and Barcelona. Like a freezepop, the music on Forever is both icy and sweet, an irresistible combination in these hot summer months. ‘80s pop-culture references like “Robotron 2000” (evoking memories of the great video game Robotron 2084) and “Tracey Gold” (a paen to the Growing Pains star) match well with burbling synths, vocodered vocals, and drum machines, making this a treat you can gobble down again and again without fear of brainfreeze. Other highlights include such catchy songs as “Harebrained Scheme,” “Freezepop Forever,” and “Get Ready 2 Rokk.” This band is just as refreshing and fun as its namesake – and without the calories!
-- Julio Diaz, ink19.com

If the Waitresses were still making music, this is hopefully what they would sound like. Freezepop are probably the most aptly named band ever, crystal clear moments of pop made perfect in the icy cold world of synthpop.
     Mixing equal parts new wave and synth (but not the guitar new wave sound!) this band manages to be both fun and relentlessy catchy.
     I'd say they sound like some other band (and I did), but what they really sound like is someone telling you about a band. You know. "Oh, the so and so's were the best. Every song was bouncy and fun." But when you go check that band out, only the first single is good, but the rest of the album was kind of lame. Freezepop is just like that, except for the lame part.
     Literally every track here has something to recommend it, from the Top 40 ready ballad of "Tender Lies" to the Nippon-friendly "Tenisu no Boifurendo." Part of what helps here is the great harmonic vocals of the female lead. Add to that well-written songs with great melodies and you can begin to understand why this is such a cool album.
     The only drawback is that this is not the kind of album that grows on you exactly. Either you fall in love with it forever right away (like a good crush) or you never quite get it.
Freezepop forever. We should be so lucky.
Highly recommended.
--Lexicon magazine

Voted best new artist at last year's American Synthpop Awards, this female-fronted trio make frilly, robotic pop about cloning, "rokking," awesome DJs and robot friends. Hyper video game beeps and blips, corny melodies and robo-voice up the silly factor in places, while other tracks--such as the ethereal Japanese number called, uh, some lines and dots (you'll know it when you see it)--showcase the band's serious knack for tunes and beats. And hey, I got through this whole review without mentioning the '80s. But really, "the '80s." 7.5/10
-- Lorraine Carpenter, Montreal Mirror

Blipp, blopp and vocoder! AND female vocals of the sweetest kind.
Never heard a vocoder in action? Listen at Freezepop! They only have two instruments, a Yamaha QY70 and a.. guess what.. vocoder. Just for the extras there is also very sweet female song added. And most of the songs is about robots. Could it be better? Well.. They could put up more songs on the web! Let´s go thru some songs found on mp3.com.
Robotron 2000: Here is a song very much like those early computergames we all love. Of course with sweet vocals from the very robotic girl Liz.
Tenisu no boyfrendo: I really don´t understand a single word of the lyrics, because they are in japanese. But it all sounds very fresh and uplifting.
Summerboy: If a punkrock group did a cover of this song, it would be a hit in the mainstream world. Now it´s done with electronic equipment by electronicly routed minds and that´s so much better! Blipp blopp!
-- Martin, www.synthpop.net

Just when I was about to give up on the modern synthpop scene, along came Freezepop, and my faith was restored. Lately it seemed to me that the synthpop universe was being overtaken by a glut of gloomy and doomy pale white boys whining about lost loves and God knows what else. I was convinced that fun was something that died somewhere around 1985, and any synthpop recorded after that time simply paled in comparison to the early wave of carefree synthpop anthems.
     Straight out of Boston comes this quirky synthpop trio with their collective finger firmly on the pulse of 1983. And not only is this CD fun to listen to, but there is also an abundant supply of pop craftsmanship, blippy beats, and lyrical sentiments delivered with tongue very firmly in cheek. Imagine... a synthpop band with a sense of humour. What a concept! Freezepop sound like a modern day Human League; an electronic aesthetic married to cooing female vocals. Songs like "Harebrained Scheme," "Tender Lies," and "Plastic Stars" are instantly memorable, and the listener is guaranteed to crack a smile during songs like "Tracey Gold" and "Robotron 2000." During "Freezepop Forever" (the title track), the group takes great delight in passing around the microphone and introducing themselves. Sure, this has been done before, but never with such enthusiasm. these guys genuinely love all those glorious new wave tunes from the 80's, and it shows. Place your hand over your heart and pledge allegiance to all things silicon. In the name of love and dancing, all hail the almighty Freezepop.
-- Gary Flanagan, Nightwaves magazine

All this harsh/shouty music is all well & good but it's sometimes nice to take it easy &, just for a change, listen to something that puts a smile on your face. If this is what you are looking for then the American trio of Liz Enthusiasm, The Other Sean T Drinkwater & The Duke Of Candied Apples (not their real names, I'll wager!) will surely delight you with this excellent 12 tracker.
     The colurful presentation & the band's groovy (baby) fashion sense all add to the band's general kitschness & help set the scene for the opening "Hare Brained Sceme" which has a nice line in understated humour.There's enough here to suggest that the currently trendy "Electroclash" label might benefit the band with the robot voices of Robotron 2000" &the offbeat "T DJ" as well as the Japanese-titled (& styled) fifth track all leaning towards such areas.Where Freeaepop really come up trumps is the fact that they know how to write good old-fashioned excellent songs such as "Science Genius Girl" or the male-fronted "Tracey Gold". The rock parts of "Get Ready To Rokk" fit in suprisingly well but, in all honesty such is the genius of this band they could get away with anything, even the playful "Summer Boy" comes out smiling & that's what you'll be doing after listening to this album.The self celebratory "Freezepop Foever" rounds up the album as each band member makes their introductions & tells you a little bit about themselves although, as throughout the album, it's done with it's tongue firmly in cheek.And as proof of their all-round talent "Plastic Stars" & the superb "Tender Lies" prove that they are also capable of touching the heart strings.Two delicately touching songs where Liz's vocals accentuate the mood of the music, almost seeming to meld themselves to the whistful melodic delivery.
     To make music that proves excellent throughout whilst not taking itself seriously is something that not many bands can master. S.P.O.C.K have it in spades, of course & Goteki try their best but Freezepop prove that they have mastered this difficult balancing act, too & it's a safe bet that this was as much fun for the band to do as it is for everyone else to listen to.
-- Carl Jenkinson, electrogarden.com

Back when New Wave was new and grunge pop wasn't even a glimmer on the horizon, synth bands reigned supreme, and groups like the Human League topped the charts. Angst was the lyrical name of the game then, but it's not now for the likes of retro-New Wavers Freezepop, wry, self-referential hipsters that they are. From the start of Forever, it's one pop confection after another, zippy beats urging your toes to tap. Some songs are sentimental, but most are just plain fun, like "Harebrained Scheme" and "T DJ," a true-to-life portrait of a Friday night regular on the B line heading to Allston. Liz's singing is spot-on, with just the right semisardonic inflection. it all reminds me of the title of an old New Wave-era Nick Lowe album: Pure Pop for Now People.
-- Taylor McNeil, Bostonia magazine

...Freezepop could have provided the background music for the Saturday Night Live skit "Sprockets."
-- Teil Linn Wise, Rockpile magazine
(can you believe this was actually meant as a put-down? i mean, sprockets! sprockets!! we're just bummed that the sprockets movie has been shelved...)

There was real effort not to make any mention of the 1980's or Germany or retro keyboards in this review no matter how badly it was called for. It's always best to avoid such cliches. However, Freezepop's first full length release, Freezepop Forever, sounds so much like a forgotten Yaz album, recorded after Alison Moyet stumbled into the studio, dazed and distracted after being lost in the streets of Berlin, while the rest of the group struggled through the midst of a three-day speed binge. Forever is by and large a lighthearted affair, concerned mostly with setting up friends, tales of dance music-lovin' MBTA riders, and creating new band members through the miracles of science. All of this is, of course, accompanied by music heavily influenced by Krautrock and new-wavers like the Human League and the aforementioned Yaz. So that being said, if you actually sat down and learned how to play that damned Casio keyboard when you were a kid you might have been able to create something like "Get Ready to Rokk", which sounds remarkably like an intense game of Pong with the occasional intrusion of your big brother's heavy metal guitar stylings emanating from the basement. Like its name indicates, Freezepop can be a pretty chilly affair. The vocals are flat and detached, and the unrelenting programmed staccato coming out of the Yamaha qy-70, Freezepop's bread and butter, can sometimes grate. But the trio shows mercy with occasional synth washes that drown the listener in warmth, such as in "Tenisu No Boifurendo", which is actually titled in phonetic Japanese characters just to keep us guessing. The band's sense of humor should not be overlooked, shining brightest on the ready-for-a-John-Hughes-soundtrack "Tracey Gold", a paean to the ex-star of "Growing Pains", or so one would assume. Freezepop can create a truly pretty song as evidenced by "Tender Lies", which also happens to be the least
quirky on the album and features perhaps the only non-annoying use of a Vocoder ever recorded. Overall, a fine first effort that's well worth a listen. If a synth-rock revolution takes over the Boston music scene, consider Forever the first shot fired.
--Peter Hanlon, Northeast Performer

The Orange EP
From out of the blue an email arrives. Weeks later a CD arrives. This is a normal turn of events here @ Oddbox but, this band got our attention. It wasn't their clothes or their haircuts that made us take a second look. We fell in love with the music. A refreshingly innocent and honest album with catchy melodies and hooks. Synthpop has returned!
They have created an alternate world in which they exist as futuristic pop stars. We recommend that you click on over and have a listen for yourself.
-- Oddbox.com

As their helpful bio sheet notes, Freezepop's entire EP was recorded on a portable sequencer, which, depending on your ears, is either an accomplishemnt or an excuse. These four songs bounce to programmed beats, synths, and a vocoder (that robot voice toy). Judging from their band photo and their stage names, the Other Sean T. Drinkwater, Liz Enthusiasm, and the Duke of Candied Apples, these three are not afraid to be wacky.
     As it turns out, the music is breezy, amusing (that's not a dis), and well-crafted. I am not too familiar with this genre, so while I could say that Ms. Enthusiasm's voice alternates between a caffienated Suzanne Vega talk-sing (think "Cracking" from Vega's debut) and a stoned Belinda Carlisle, I'd be hard-pressed to reference any groups. It's 4/4 electronic pop, layered in synthesizers, without samples or guitars.
     The opener, "Science Genius Girl," is a quirky tune about a girl whose experiments become members of her band. The vocoder works nicely on that one, flitting in and out tactfully. Track two, "T DJ," is a long overdue ode to that intensely likeable Green line rider (I think it's the B line) who plays a funky boombox to the delight of all. The kinetic music and ebullient lyrics for "T DJ" are perfectly matched. "Tender Lies" shows off an unironic, melodic side to her singing and perhaps has some Yaz to it. The closer "Summer Boy" is a cloying pop song about a crush that has little of the inventiveness of the previous three tunes.
     Throughout the EP, the detached quality of her diction keeps me following the lyrics while the pleasant loops go lolling by. Overall, a nice diversion from a steady diet of rock.
-- Max Heinegg, The Noise, April 2000

Live at Bush Hall, London, 11/25/03
I am thankfully in time however to see the debut UK show by Bostonian synthpoppers, Freezepop. Led by the wonderfully appropriately named Liz Enthusiasm, they’re here to get the party started, which Liz takes very literally during their tribute to the star of 80s US sitcom Growing Pains, Tracey Gold, when she steps into the crowd to encourage more dancing. Flanked by the equally fabulously-monikered The Other Sean T Drinkwater and The Duke of Candied Apples, one of whom is wearing a leather t-shirt and trousers and his keyboard on a strap around his neck, they bounce their way through "Bike Thief," "Science Genius Girl" and the gorgeous "Plastic Stars." Like their name suggests, Freezepop are the perfect accompaniment to a long hot summer’s day. Suck it and see.
-- James S, soundsxp.com

Live at TT the Bear's, 1/4/03
Not being able to claim an expansive familiarity with current indie synthpop characters, I can nonetheless rally for the Freezepop cause on several points. This trio knows their (pop music) history and their gear, how to promote themselves and keep things interesting ... and when to end a song. Liz Enthusiasm, the Duke of Belgian Waffles and the Other Sean T. Drinkwater rely upon minimal gear and maximum fashion sense to pull off a musical-marketing venture that seems to enjoy and deserve an increasing amount of success. Who won Best New Band of 2001 at the American Synthpop Awards? They did. Who won Best Band of 2002? They did.
     When sickened by thoughts of Chicks on Speed's under-innovative cover material or the plodding melodies of Barcelona, I can now reach for the living mini-video games that Freezepop actively nurtures on stage as an antidote. These are not stale pieces trapped in the Atari 80's or mind-tripping millennium Sega experiences, but wink-nod-raspberry music that is almost as populist as their prolific web site, and as much rooted in the founding fathers of synth as in the test tube babies yet to be born. Playstation 2 may now claim partial custody of their song "Science Genius Girl," but these guys make it clear that their friends and growing fan base have their hearts. And while the songwriting role of each member demonstrates the amount of clever planning and cooperation that are invested by the group, the final concoction is still more Necco wafer than chocolate truffle -- with imperfections being most welcome and happy.
     Within the den of T. T. the Bear's Place a gathering of friends, fans and representatives from almost every sub-genre of the indie scene challenged the housing capacity. All for the "Mime Crime" benefit of a photographer friend whose camera was lost to thieves and seemingly was not insured. Apart from the four-band bill, the event for the evening featured a fund-raising kissing booth and an inspiring demonstration of baton twirling skill.
     Miss Dominica K.'s metal-spinning prowess was a wonderful primer to the Freezepop set. Clad as a French mime in a striped shirt and white face makeup, she mingled aptly with sonic loops and beats and the projection of gyrating red neon ellipses. With the living spirograph still in view, Freezepop took their turn on stage, standing in line like a holy pop trilogy: Sean (vocoder/synthesizer)-Liz (lead vocals)-Duke (Yamaha qy-70). Superimposed on the neon rings were Asian commercials and video game snippets, obviously selected for their caricaturist/futuristic qualities and themes. The fashionista talents of all three completed the presentation: Liz's fuschia vinyl sleeveless top as a centerpiece; the Duke's sci-fi black buttoned (possible) jumpsuit; the Other Sean's blue shirt and tie, scruffy beard and dark blue shades.
     Right away the carefree spirit of the group is revealed, as the Other Sean flashes a grin to the side during "Harebrained Scheme," hugely shrugging off what I assume to be a blunder. Not important. They are hopping in unison like three kids on a trampoline, and I immediately wish I could put down my coat and notebook to hop along with them. "Plastic Stars" takes things down a notch, as the title suggests a certain romantic pondering … with a synthetic twist. Liz's voice is both bubbly and detached, compact but not dead-upon-arrival. The Duke steers the music with two fists filled with programmed treats on a small Yamaha device. The Other Sean complements the vocals and music with his own electronic gear.
     "That Boy Is All About Fun" pulses, drills beats and blips and basks in glorious synth refrains. This song is about -- or is dedicated to -- Liz's roommate, present at the show, like so many of their friends. The stage-audience banter is silly, catalyzing and so important to the Freezepop moment. A Sean (vocoder)/Liz duet eases the hyperactivity, and a dreamy goth ballad is later performed live for the first time.
     Back to the surging beats, tinny claps and (introducing) fun French lyrics with "Parlez-vous Freezepop;" and back to the hyperactivity with "Super Sprøde," a blatant ode to their fans. They finish things off with the tongue-in-cheek "Bike Thief," based upon a true story and told from the villain's perspective. Wink-nod-raspberry: Freezepop chants the mantra, "You want it now/ I'll show you how," and leaves behind an audience full of adrenaline and silliness.
     Freezepop songs are alive, in spite of the mechanical context in which they exist. Their songs are clever, sarcastic and really and truly fun. The next time that I go to a Freezepop show I will not be taking notes; I will be hyper and I will be hopping right along with them.
-- Kara Tutunjian, earlash.com

Live at the Middle East Upstairs, 10/10/02

Freezepop is all about the fun. There's a joyful simplicity in their music that transports the listener into a two-dimensional comic book world. Technology wizard The Duke of Belgian Waffles uses what appears to be a joystick to coax electronic embellishments out of a laptop to augment Sean T. Drinkwater's synth melodies and Liz Enthusiasm's sweet and icy vocals. At one point in the set, Liz pulls out a cooler and hands out actual freezepops to cool the palates of the audience members. Freezepop is as charming as I anticipated they'd be, a pop-perfect shot of electronic happiness.
-- Laura Slapikoff, The Noise

Live at the Paradise Front Room, 2/9/02

I hopped off the Green Line Trolley and ran into the Paradise just as Lifestyle took the stage. I was ready to be treated to Boston's version of a synth-pop show and Lifestyle was about to begin to deliver it. Lead singer Sean T. Drinkwater showed no signs of holding back; he danced, gestured, and hopped into the audience whenever the feeling hit him. This guy was made to sing and perform synth-pop. He has the voice, the attitude, and the style.
Lifestyle makes me want to be in a synth-pop band. That night, the band had so much fun on stage it made me want to go out and buy a synthesizer the very next day. The band pumped out the kind of pure dance-pop songs that would make Martha Quinn gush for more. As luck would have it, Lifestyle ended their set with "My Favorite Song", which just happens to be my favorite song of theirs.
When Freezepop took the stage, the "other" Sean T. Drinkwater was on synths and vocoder. (Drinkwater is the original Sean T. Drinkwater's "genetically-engineered clone" leading me to believe that Drinkwater is both the focal point of Boston's synth-pop scene and poised to conquer and destroy the vanilla stylings of Boston's white-hat crowd.)
Like Lifestyle, Freezepop churned out fun and danceable electronic music and seemed to have a great time on stage. The Duke of Candied Apples looked like he was playing a video game on his Yamaha QY-70, or "musical joystick". Lead singer Liz Enthusiasm was adorable, to say the least, and she kept the audience at attention with her catchy vocal melodies. With his vocalized effects and his knack for getting the audience clap in unison in between songs, Mr. Drinkwater supplied the humor for the night. The band threw out stickers and freeze pops to the audience. (Unfortunately, I didn't get one and I had to settle for going to Store 24 so I could at least fantasize that I'd caught one.)
Freezepop showed some of their roots by covering an old Depeche Mode song, "Photographic". But for me, the highlight of the night came when the band performed "T DJ". For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of riding with him, adorned with a blonde Afro, odd grin, and excessive amounts of pins, T DJ carries a turntable with him on the T and DJ's all night long. Fun, catchy songs like "T DJ" make me like Freezepop more and more.
If you are looking for something new and fresh to listen to and you want be thoroughly entertained, I would suggest checking out either of these bands. Perhaps one day in the near future the T DJ will be an international icon and Freezepop and Lifestyle will reign supreme, but until then, as Sean T. Drinkwater put it that night, "Hey, it's only Dance music"
-- Phoebe, earlash.com

The occasion for Saturday's midnight performance was the release of their third EP, Fashion Impression Function... The band was definitely in its element as they played to the moderately animated crowd. Liz Enthusiasm, the subdued lead singer — a petite, doe-eyed songstress in leopard print — breathily delivered a full set that included all the songs off the new EP, as well as a wide range of old material and covers. At times, she handed the mike over to the Duke of Candied Apples, and he added his own monotonic flavor to the vocals —in the hilarious song "Tracey Gold," he seduced the former Carol Seaver ("Tracey Gold — my heart's in a whirl over you / Tracey Gold — my brain's in a swirl over you"). The Duke's main responsibility, however, is to operate the coolest piece of musical technology I have ever seen: the Yamaha QY-70, described on the band's website as a "portable handheld battery-powered sequencer." It resembled a classic Nintendo-controller, and the sounds it emitted were not far off. As the high school kid next to me remarked between his bouts of head-bobbing and moon-walking, "this sounds like video game music."
     The effect was further enhanced by the musical stylings of Sean T. Drinkwater, the main synthesizer player. Sporting a Flock of Seagulls rip-off hairstyle, Drinkwater kept the bass and drum synth pumping and even added his own Transformer-inspired comments between songs. Taken together and highlighted by the pulsing neon lights and swallowing volume, the three band members produced an effect that was wholly unique and uber-trippy.
     Perhaps the most memorable moment of the set was during "Summer Boy" (a song described by Enthusiasm as "extremely silly") when the Duke implored the members of Lifestyle to retrieve a case of freeze-pops from the dressing room freezer, which the band members and audience members distributed throughout the crowd. As the happy sounds of artificial music bounc around the lively room, the smorgasbord crowd, bathed in artificial light, sucked and sipped their artificial frozen treats —bound together, if only briefly, by the guilty pleasures of the non-music that surrounded them.
     I am not going to whole-heartedly convert from my classic rock religion to new wave worship, leaving Dylan, Clapton, and Bono for the likes of Thomas Dolby and The Fixx, as a result of Saturday night. Yet, I think that music can be fun, and that most artists today can afford to take themselves a little less seriously. And that is why some people will always covet Converse All-Stars, the "Brat Pack," Atari and the lighthearted attitude of the 1980s and why, as Freezepop's shameless musical propaganda suggests, "Fre-squared-zepop — Freezepop forever / Freezepop forever and forever..."
-- Courtney Hollands, The Daily Free Press

Live at the Lotus Eaters Gallery, Montreal, 11/14/01
Last Wednesday saw Boston's Freezepop mount the stage at the Lotus Eaters' Gallery in what was almost certainly the most eagerly anticipated concert of the season (year? decade?). Actually they didn't so much mount anything resembling a stage as set up their instruments at the end of the room near the windows. But after they did, they proceeded to preach the gospel of synthpop to the gathered congregation of a couple dozen kids. Their cascading kerygma of bips, bleeps, and robot effects tore the place apart, bit by digital bit.
      We cried to a moving ballad for Tracey Gold (Carol Seaver of Growing Pains), we swooned to the sexy 'Plastic Stars,' we thrilled to the futuristic 'Robotron 2000.' Each song was replete with processed vocals, soaring synthesizers, and whatever was accomplished by the "qy-70" (a hand-held box about the size and shape of a TI-92 calculator).
      If all this sounds a tad anachronistic, well, that's because it is. Lead singer Liz Enthusiasm admits, "you try to bring a little something new to it, but we definitely owe a lot to the early 80s." And don't we all: our youngest and tenderest years. "Maybe it's because we grew up with it, we have some sort of connection to it," muses Enthusiasm.
-- M.J. Frassica, McGill Tribune

WBCN Rumble Semifinals, 5/18/01
...Freezepop, on the other hand, definitely stand out from the pack. They are an ’80s style synthpop celebration of style over substance—all presented with a refreshing lack of irony. The incessant bubble machine they employ matches their sound perfectly. I particularly enjoyed the blend of The Other Sean T. Drinkwater’s very compelling vocoder and Liz Enthusiasm’s laconic vocal style (she’s also on lead bellybutton tonight). My only bit of advice would be to further amp up the mechanical aspects and really take it over the top to create the ultimate robot pop group.
-- Corin Ashley, The Noise, June 2001

WBCN Rumble Preliminaries, 5/8/01
...Lastly we have Freezepop who have adopted a completely un-rock sound. A trio consisting of a singer, and keyboard player, and a Game Boy looking programming device, Freezepop have a wittily sarcastic, but oddly innocent charm to them. They are playing ’80s sounding dance music and getting most of the audience to bob along to their utterly cute state of existence. For an electronic outfit in a rock club everyone seems to dig it. Having cheekily poked fun at all things that rock, the set culminates with a guitar smashing and a whole lot of devil horn signs. Freezepop takes the night.
-- K, The Noise, June 2001

Live at Castle von Buhler's Apocalyptic Prom The Castle 2/26/00
Izzy and I break out our best previously-experienced tuxedos, splash on some apocalyptic war paint, and head over to the Castle. We walk in on '80s synth pop sounds coming from a crowded room of well-dressed, slow-dancing, gender-mixed couples. The ceiling fan turns strips of crepe paper 'round in circles that appear to be dancing to the programmed midi drums controlled by the Duke of Candied Apples. The instrumentless Duke looks like he's playing Nintendo while physically enjoying the rhythms. The other Sean T. Drinkwater, in a loud tuxedo, isn't overloaded, though he's operating three different synths. Liz Enthusiasm stands in front of the boys, sweetly delivering her simple pop melodies with an easy-going attitude. The beat bops, the vocoder sounds bring back a different era, and the twirling crepe paper weaves itself into Laura "Bats in the Bellfry" Wilson's hair, practically levitating her. The dancing continues.
-- T Max, The Noise, April 2000

Electro Nouveau (Moonshine Records Compilation)
Electro Nouveau hosts many new new wave winners from the depths of obscurity.Ladytron and a sweet GusGus remix provide the star power, while unknowns like FPU, Northern Lite , and Freezepop deliver the detached urgency. Essential tunes: Freezepop "Plastic Stars," Gary Flanagan, and FPU.
-- Mixer Magazine, January 2003

Electricity compilation
Electro-pop is not dead, it's thriving, as this compilation CD proves. New tracks by Ganymede, Gary Flanagan, Color Theory, Plastic Orgasm People, Wave In Head, Freezepop, and other artists celebrate the many colors of the synthesizer and the beatbox, with timeless stylings that evoke Erasure, Soft Cell, and Depeche Mode....Now if we could only get MTV to pick up on the trend....
-- Jim Aikin, Keyboard magazine, April 2001