At the time this album came out, I was really into Juno Reactor. I was desperate for new material. I'd search online for any and all information concerning them. When I found out about this disc I was a bit shocked. For a couple of reasons. 1) I realized I already had it. I'd been given a copy at a release party, and 2) I hadn't listened to it. I immediately put it in and for that year... 1995 or 96, this record was everywhere. At least in Vegas. 'Control' and 'Fallen Angel' mixes were played at clubs and the songs appeared on movie soundtracks. Traci was everywhere.
I think you can probably tell I like this record. Both 'Control' and 'Fallen Angel' are amazing songs and both are collaborations with Juno Reactor. An instrumental version of 'Control' appears in the "Mortal Kombat" film and 'Fallen Angel' appears in "Virtuosity". The third track is another Juno number, 'Good-N-Evil'. The change on the third is different and relies on some strange beat counts. The music incorporates a horn sound giving it an old film score sound. There's a bass heavy synth sound droning along under the main beat that drives the song forward. I like it, but it's unusual. Next up is 'Fly'. She did this one with Babble, a band formed from members of the defunct 80's trio, The Thompson Twins. 'Fly' lacks a lot of the rave quality of the first three tracks and mellows the album out quite a bit.
'Distant Land' could be considered the first ballad of the album. Mike Edwards of Jesus Jones is up to bat for this one. The tune is subdued and mellow. It's followed by another Juno Reactor collaboration, 'Outlaw Lover'... I kinda consider this song the forerunner to 'Pistolero', a Juno track from one of their albums. It's actually quite exciting and I love it! Next up, you have another Babble tune, 'I Want You'. One thing you start to realize quickly is that Babble and Mike Edwards all contribute slower beats and more trippy tunes than the rave material Juno Reactor provide.
'Say Something' is about as fast paced as it gets for Mike Edwards. It's a lightly arranged tune and quite groovy. I really like this tune. 'Father's Field' is a collaboration with Babble and tells the story of a young woman being raped in a field. It's a stark and abrupt. The subject matter alone is controversial. Whether or not the song is autobiographical is unknown, but if it is... Very disturbing. 'Okey Dokey' rounds off the album and is Mike Edwards final cut. It's a loose, fast paced, fun little number with nonsensical lyrics and Lords giving an impromptu Oscar acceptance speech. It's light-hearted and completely at odds with the previous track.
So Lords is a complicated woman. She transitioned from the porn industry to make an even bigger name for herself in other media genres. She's smart, talented and if this album gives us any indication, she's deep and thoughtful. Instead of taking the sure bet by creating dreamy dance tunes with happy-go-lucky subject matter, she challenges us with controversial tracks like 'Control' (which basically suggests getting over a broken heart by surrendering your will to another person.... Hardly standard or traditionally accepted form of treatment), and 'Father's Field'... Wow.
One thing is certain, Lords is not going to be held to any standard we can think of. She'll choose to challenge and defy. In the grand tradition of Grace Jones, I think Lords could have a very successful career in music if she stayed focused on it. My final words: AN AMAZING FRESHMAN EFFORT... LET'S SEE MORE.
TRACI LORDS - 1,000 FIRES
01. Control
02. Fallen Angel
03. Good-N-Evil
04. Fly
05. Distant Land
06. Outlaw Lover
07. I Want You
08. Say Something
09. Father's Field
10. Okey Dokey
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