TECHNOCRAT: Even such electronics-loving groups as Ministry...

TECHNOCRAT: Even such electronics-loving groups as Ministry and Nine Inch Nails use standard-issue guitars and drums for some of their recordings, but Jesus Jones is touting its new “Perverse” album as the first “rock” album to be recorded all on computer, without conventional rock instruments. The album was recorded completely at Jesus Jones singer Mike Edwards’ house in London. (See review, Page 67).

That’s brought a backlash for Edwards, who has encountered those who believe the very notion of computers is anathema to rock. Edwards sees computers as rock’s savior.

“Creatively, rock music is struggling,” he says. “There’s been a resurgence of archetypal rock music, loud guitars and stuff. But because it’s been commercially successful doesn’t mean that artistically it’s going anywhere. (What we’ve done) is what punk rock was always supposed to have been about . . . incredibly easy and not very expensive. You are getting records made for the price of a digital audio tape. But the very fact that it bothers people who are locked into the guitar thing means it does what punk did--alienate a generation.”