From an atmosphere seemingly to dark to see Bamboo Crisis penetrates the obscurity with a dark but extremely dance-ble new album, entitled EPOCH, perfect for these "Desperate Days".
From All Music Guide
Biography by Jason Ankeny
Gothic industrial unit Bamboo Crisis is led by prolific Houston-based singer/programmer Ken Gerhard, whose other projects included the industrial Bozo Porno Circus and Flowers & Machines.
Debuting in 1994 with the 12-inch "Shapeshifter," Bamboo Crisis resurfaced the following year with two more 12-inches, "Cdculture" and "Aftermath," before issuing the full-length 51 Pegasi in 1996.
The accessible, worldbeat-tinged follow-up Konspirosphere appeared four years later, featuring guest appearances by KMFDM’s Mike Jensen and Christian Death’s Gitane Demone.
Featured review of Konspirosphere
from Columbus Alive - July 5, 2001:
Tenured underground heroes Bamboo Crisis have been around for over a decade purveying what they call EBM-Electronic Body Music. That it still stands up today in a genre keen on instant recycling shows an innovative streak that remains from the bands 1990 debut A Tale From The New World through their new release Konspirosphere.
Bamboo Crisis draws from a bevy of influences, but does so subtly enough so as to not be obvious, choosing to hit listeners with substance and style but sans a gratuitous BPM-fest.
Gothic moodiness is layered atop a ticking electronic heartbeat (Sentinel brilliantly melds Peter Murphy with Sisters of Mercy), occasional blasts of industrial-strength hubris (most pronounced on DNA, a track that could be a somewhat subdued Skinny Puppy) and some of the most melodic, accessible and soulful tunes from an electronic artist since Trent Reznor strapped in. To be sure, Let’s Play God is a long-lost Pretty Hate Machine descant, but with a modern edginess to the proceedings.
Konspirosphere is dance disc that’s not just for dancers, transcending the limiting genre with sonorous aplomb.
~Brian O’Neill
History
In 1990, Bamboo Crisis along with their manager Bobby Joe Rose formed ToneZone Records and released their self produced cassette; A Tale from the New World to rave reviews. The single Perfect received local airplay on mainstream radio station 96.5 The Edge.
This forever changed the Houston music landscape and sparked the formation of numerous electronic and gothic influenced bands. Once a bastion for Rockabilly, Country and Funk music, Houston’s club kids and scenesters started throwing special events featuring electronic, gothic and industrial EBM acts. These influences carry on through too today as Houston is the home of many talented electronic music based bands.
For more information about Bamboo Crisis, please visit ToneZone Records homepage.