BENOIT PIOULARD : sonnet : Kranky (30.03.2015)

If you belong to these few individuals which are of the opinion that Thomas Meluch’s voice was always too dominating on his albums as Benoit Pioulard, then you’re probably delighted to hear that his latest one for Kranky is a strictly instrumental affair. It’s an experiment in restraint for him, and after the first moments of surprise and irritation about the missing of his gentle baritone, I have to admit it’s an overall successful one. 8.25/10

 

NITE FIELDS : depersonalisation : Felte (out now)

Remember how you hated yourself when you cleared your vinyl collection little by little with every time you’ve moved to a new place? When you sold early gems from Dead Can Dance or The Cure or Tuxedomoon for a ridiculous price to friends that were a lot smarter than you since they’re still proudly cultivating their passion? Australian band Nite Fields just released an album that will bring you back to these days with a mix of goth - the real one, not that terrible new wannabe shit - wave and post punk. Good thing I now owe this one in a digital format. 7/10 

 

PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING : the race for space : Test Card Recordings (27.02.2015)

When a band is embracing the idea of making concept albums and deals with the arms race between the US and the former USSR (covering the period from 1957 to 1972), you wouldn’t necessarily expect a record that you’ll love to dance to. But that’s exactly what PSB is offering you with their trademark mix of impulsive drums, synths, heavy guitars and samples that reflect on that specific era. The cold war hardly felt that irresistible before. 8/10

 

FORT ROMEAU : insides : Ghostly International (27.02.2015)

On his second longplayer as Fort Romeau, London-based producer Mike Green has shaped a collection of dancefloor embracing tracks that feel deep, futuristic, melodic and maybe even most importantly human - which means that “Insides“ will sure have a life beyond the mirrorball as well. If you were recently raving about (or to) Recondite’s fabulous “Iffy“ then this one here will certainly take over a prominent slot in your playlist for weeks to come. 8.25/10

 

 

ROMARE : projections : Ninja Tune (out now)

“Projections“ is one of those albums where it’s pretty hard to deliver a negative statement, really. There’s the occasional odd disco reference, an elusive flirt with jazz, confident beatsmithery and a reliable taste for vocal samples that pay homage to the origins of Afro-American culture. Still I can imagine that some folks tend to dispose Romare’s debut for Ninja Tune as sounding slightly dated, as something that could have easily been released on the very same label some fifteen years ago. For me it’s more a matter of quality music being a rather timeless affair. 7/10

 

TWERPS : range anxiety : Merge (27.02.2015)

Twerps is one of these indie combos that aren’t too interested in reinventing the musical wheel, really. And that’s exactly why the Australian four-piece is a band that makes it easy to have a crush on - all jangly guitars and subtle hooks and fuzzy melodies. In their best moments - like on “New Moves“, for example - they’re even able to deliver songs that indie darlings such as Real Estate or Best Coast would kill for. 8/10

 

SUFJAN STEVENS : carrie & lowell : Asthmatic Kitty (30.03.2015)

The majority of Sufjan Stevens fans I know clearly refer their admiration to his earlier work, and not to the more recent one where he enjoyed to lose himself in electronic experiments and avant garde pop projects like S/S/S (the collaborative project between Stevens, Son Lux and rapper Serengeti). “Carrie & Lowell“ now sees him going back to his roots (or back on form, if you will): deeply personal folk songs mainly carried by his voice and acoustic guitars that deal with grim topics but are sold through his distinctive style which mixes innocence with a profound sadness. What sounds like a perfect winter album to score the grey skies surprisingly is a heavily effective operation to accompany this spring as well. 8.25/10

 

HANNAH COHEN : pleasure boy : Bella Union (27.03.2015)

You don’t need any liner notes or press release to realize in an instant that “Pleasure Boy“ was a rather cathartic affair for Ms. Cohen, so, yes, it isn’t necessarily the album that you should blast through your speakers before you go on your first date. Being the result of a painful break-up “Pleasure Boy“ will certainly work in favor for those who just have to deal with loss themselves. 6.5/10

 

OLIVER SCHORIES : fields without fences : SoSo (13.03.2015)

There’s this endless discourse if albums from dance producers should serve as a platform to finally come up with something musically different or if they should deliver more of the same in an epic scale. And while I usually couldn’t care less as long as the songs - or tracks - are original and strong and well-produced, I tend to agree to the first category more than often. “Fields Without Fences“ though is another example to prove me wrong, as Hanseatic DJ/producer/label owner Schories goes a lot deeper (and maybe even darker) than he did with his debut three years ago. 6/10