CD. Joy Electric is Ronnie Martin s musical amalgamation of Christian ideology and synth rock. The White Songbook: Legacy Vol. 1 is Martin s first step in a series of concept albums designed to create a meaningful legacy of work intended to uplift the human spirit and ultimately stand as his greatest artistic achievement. Employing a monophonic analog synthesizer system Martin stitches together disparate grooves and eccentric sounds into a pop-song format. Whereas a great number of dance/electronica purveyors are content to gobble up precious airtime with relentless beats and repetitive motifs Martin fills the void with thoughtful tone poems that break into melodies with an evangelic message. Though he s not a preacher nor does he intend to be Martin delivers his celebration of humanity and diatribes against oppression with conviction and sincerity. The old-school analog arrangements on this disc ooze with warmth as Martin peppers his compositions with funky rhythms and soulful call-and-response figures. The Good Will Not Be Cloned and Sing Once for Me evoke Brian Eno s groundbreaking trilogy of recordings with David Bowie (Low Heroes Lodger) and early Depeche Mode while We Are Rock could fit neatly onto a Madonna album regardless of her fashion-of-the-moment whims. As the moniker suggests Joy Electric brings joy to electronica. ~ Tom Semioli Rovi