Dr. McCoy's "It's worked so far, but we're not out yet" introduces "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)" made it to the Top Five on the Billboard charts, accompanied by an exciting video and Mr.Spock's "pure energy" quote throughout. The bouncy and rubbery synths, along with the metal striking metal sound effects have a lot more personality, as does the violin-like synth that comes in later. The single edit did not contain that sample from the computer, "destruction." Love that guitar-like sampling effect at the end.

"Tomorrow" could've been another single, the catchy way the title is stretched out in the chorus. Definite Human League-type vocals and stylings.

Their cover of Abba's "Lay All Your Love On Me" strips the original of its 70's disco synth material, but gives it an 80's flavour without dishonoring it. Some ST samples would've been hilarious here.

"Repetition" is a ballad with a slowed drum machine beat. I think this became a single, but I'm not sure. The airy feel here echoes what the Pet Shop Boys were doing at the time, but the despairing sense of returning to someone over and over because a life spent alone means nothing is felt here.

"It is useless to resist us" goes another ST sample, before the second single, "Walking Away" comes on. I sense some New Order stylings here. The beat isn't as energetic as "What's On Your Mind", but I can see why this hit the charts as well. Key lyrics: "One thing to remember/Is that I have feelings, too/I surely would have closed my eyes/If I had known the real you."

Personally, I would have chosen the next song, the longing-filled "Over The Sea" as the next single because the energy rivals "What's On Your Mind." Some of the synths have stylings alike the Pet Shop Boys' cover of "Always On My Mind."

"Attitude" sports an 80's-style hip-hop beat and tells three stories of the importance of having an attitude to get one through the mean world. The third verse condemns the American power elite in toto: "They make sure things are going their way/And the country's in a mess/As they buy that land, start that war,/Keep those people poor,/They don't care if people aren't/Going to take it anymore." Sound familiar in 2003?

The slow-tempo "Something In The Air" features airy synths, samples a moaning woman and Spock's "I know what you know. I feel what you feel" (from Dagger Of The Mind?).

The 7:45 "Running" does veer towards DM territory, but its squishy synth beats, high octave keyboards, scratching sounds, and the layered instrumentation of the others make the running time of this tolerable.

"Make It Funky" is a small whiff of a song containing a computerized voice saying the title, and then "Good God."

A pity they didn't last long, as I've heard that their next album commanded an even better sound. Still, a memorable sound due to the "Pure Energy" single.


In every revolution, there is one band with a vision   July 19, 2000
J. Derek Reardon (KC, MO, USA)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

The timing couldn't have been better. It was my senior year in HS, and "What's on Your Mind" came out as I was prepping for the debate tourney season. I think this was the first song I ever proudly blared out my car windows, probably much to the annoyance of other motorists (but I didn't care). Then I bought the remix version, and that forever hooked me on 12" remixes. And then I finally bought the entire album, and that solidified my love for InSoc and my passion for electronic dance music. This CD is a must have for those who enjoy layered dance electronica with cutting edge sampling (for the time), great vocal harmonics, and thought-provoking lyrics.

The album starts off on a high-paced, high-energy note with "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" with its throbbing drum-n-bass, deep orchestrations, and brilliant samples from Star Trek. If you haven't heard this song, you're at the wrong clubs. [And if you like this song, the remix CD is a must have!] The energy continues (slightly more upbeat) with "Tomorrow," featuring fantastic orchestration, lyrics, and vocal harmonies. InSoc brilliantly remade the Abba classic "Lay All Your Love on Me." At the time, I didn't even know this was an Abba song (it sounds every bit of InSoc), and I absolutely love this version of the dance classic. [Yet another single released with remixes that kick butt!] "Repetition" slows down to ballad mode, but it has fantastic orchestration and lyrics. "Walking Away" is another dance masterpiece that capitalizes on more Star Trek samples amid the sensory barrage that forces you to dance. [This was also released as a remix single, which is AWESOME... get it if you can!] You'll continue to bounce around the dance floor with the bright yet deep "Over the Sea." Appropriately titled, "Attitude" departs some from electronica and introduces a bit of funk and an r&b groove attitude. "Something in the Air" continues with a slow funky groove that utilizes more great samples from Star Trek. "Running" is a long (7:41) electronica infused minimalist piece of art; the angst-filled vocals sound like David Bowie, some backing orchestration is reminiscent of older Depeche Mode, and the ending is filled with creative sampling. [This song also had remixes released.] The release ends with "Make It Funky," which is a very short (1:11), slow, minimalist funk piece with some cool computerized samples.

I give InSoc's debut release a low 5 star rating. While it falls within my top 100 releases of all time, I must admit that I tend to only listen to the first 6 tracks. Also, if I want to listen to InSoc, I tend to prefer to listen to my remix singles from this release, or listen to Hack instead (InSoc's second album, which is brilliant). But I must pay this release its proper respect, because it did solidify my love for electronic and dance music (as well as a desire to program my own music).

If you like late 80s dance-pop-electronica, or if you merely remember liking "What's on Your Mind," you will not be disappointed with purchasing this release. It is full of body-moving, mind-blowing, thought-provoking beats, orchestration and lyrics that will satisfy even the most finicky dance floor diva. For their time, InSoc were musical visionaries that showed where music could move, both in sound and in content.


Still Dancing After All These Years   May 25, 2000
Paul Allaer (Cincinnati)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

I recently bought the CD to replace the vinyl I no longer play, and it's like revisiting an old friend after all these years. Think of Information Society as The Human League minus that band's "We're serious musicians. Please respect us!" attitude. While the album is best known for the hit "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)", that is actually one of the weaker tracks. Listen instead to I.S. taking on ABBA's "Lay All Your Love On Me", the stomping "Attitde" and the tongue-in-cheek final track "Make It Funky" (all 1 min 40 sec of it!). This is what great dance music in the late 80's was like.


A classic!   June 11, 2004
Laury B. (Canada)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

It was 1988. After years of playing in small clubs, Kurt Harland (who was known as Kurt Valaquen back then), Jim Cassidy, Paul Robb and, later on, Amanda Kramer, struck a record deal with Tommy Boy/Warner Bros and recorded their first album without realizing that it would be their ticket to this crazy roller coaster ride called fame. Of course, they had to make some sacrifices : their electronic, Kraftwerk-influenced music, in order to be more top-40, radio-friendly, was turned into a brilliant blend of pop, funk and dance that would propel Information Society to the top of the charts. The first single off their eponymous effort, What's on your mind (which has one of the catchiest choruses ever in my opinion), was an instant success in the summer of '88 and still remains one of the most memorable songs from the synth-pop era. With a profusion of Star Trek samples and infectious beats, the rest of the album is equally satisfying, with Walking Away and Something in the Air among the highlights. InSoc was never able to repeat the success of their first album, but it was enough to give them a loyal and still surprisingly-large fan base and make people dance for decades to come.


great late 80's synth pop   June 25, 2004
insoc (Miami, Florida United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

If you are buying this cd for the song "what's on your mind" you will be very pleased to know that the rest of the album is on par with that song. "Tomorrow" has an excelent beat and melody, so does "Repetition", wich is an extraordinary synth pop ballad. Worth to mention is the song "Make It Funky", great use of samples and a particular beat. "Walking away", also included, was the second single of the album. Recommended if you love synth pop and are building a synth pop collection. Better than this album is Information Society?s next album called Hack. It is Information Society at its peak of performance and inspiration.
Interesting Fact: Paul Robb, member of Information Society, also was the producer for the first synth pop band Red Flag album, wich, believe, it is a dance synth pop gem. Be sure to check out Red Flag's N?ive Art then.