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[Music] Automat – Modul

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Automat_6sepia_(Credit Martin Walz).jpg

This year will be booming for new releases, and this one, in particular, has me very excited (I’m excited about all new music, but this…).

First, about Automat:

Automat are guitarist Jochen Arbeit (Einstürzende Neubauten, Die Haut, amongst others), drummer Achim Färber (Phillip Boa & The Voodooclub, Skip McDonald amongst others) and bassist Georg Zeitblom (known for his solo work and his collaborations with Fred Frith, John Zorn, Arto Lindsay, J.G. Thirlwell, Pyrolater, as well as others). Since 2014, the trio has released the three studio albums »Automat,« »Plusminus« and »Ostwest« and collaborated with several central figures from the world of experimental music, amongst them Genesis P. Orridge, Schneider TM and Max Loderbauer. For their album »Modul,« released in 2019 through Compost Records, they have again worked together with Loderbauer and invited Paul St. Hilaire aka Tikiman, Lydia Lunch and Mika Bajinski to contribute vocals for the record.

I don’t think you could have a much more stunning introduction than this. The three of these musicians have so much history in improvisational, post-Industrial music, dub and Darkwave that a book might barely be enough to document.

The beauty of this record is the deep, dark, yet thoroughly relaxed groove. This is crisp, precise, focused groove, not the sort of thing one would find in Lee “Scratch” Perry’s wilder moments. Think more along the lines of Adrian Sherwood. The vocals are nearly magical, hazy, and you still manage not to get too lost in the moment.

Compost Records is known for putting out records that are consistently as close to perfect as you can get. They can be very proud of adding this one to the canon.

[Music] Choirgiant – Midnight Tapes & Mourning Volumes

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It’s albums like this that keep me attracted to what is happening in post-rock.  I’m no expert, and won’t ever claim to be, but there is something pleasant about not only the guitars on this album, but the bass work, which really stands out on the first track.  The vocals on the album do yeoman’s work complementing the instrumentation.

From Gregor himself:

Choirgiant is the project of Gregor Graham, a Scottish musician now based in Ontario, Canada. Following his time as a member of Edinburgh-based post-rock bands Penguins Kill Polar Bears and We, he was left with ideas to be explored. These ideas would soon become Choirgiant.

He’s earned a fan.

[Music] BlankFor.ms – Side A Feelings

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Judging by the tags listed on this rather charming EP, I would have thought that this music is meant for the dance floor.  It is, actually.  It’s just the sort of thing you would want to listen to after a night of pounding noise and stomping around in your best shoes.  With this release, BlankFor.ms lets you lilt gently into a relaxed phase, ending your evening on an exalted note.  There is a cracked, crunchy beauty to this album.  I look forward to exploring the band further.

[Music] Nass Zuruck – Golden Age

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This is the last release of 2019 for Kalamine Records, a label out of Bordeaux, France, who have a deep catalog of bands deeply made in the post-punk and electro-Industrial mold.

Nass Zuruck release a very short album, but this is good.  The grooves are tight, meaty, and it left me with a tinge of disappointment because the album was far too short.  This is definitely for fans of Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft and mid-era Wax Trax! Records fare.

[Music] Bandcamp’s Best Albums of 2019

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Another banner year for Bandcamp.  They continue to be the premier platform for new artists, and the reissue market benefits greatly from their presence.  May 2020 be much better for them!

Monday, Dec. 9: Best Albums of 2019: #100 – 81
Tuesday, Dec. 10: Best Albums of 2019: #80 – 61
Wednesday, Dec. 11: Best Albums of 2019: #60 – 41
Thursday, Dec. 12: Best Albums of 2019: #40 – 21
Friday, Dec. 13: Best Albums of 2019: #20 – 1

[Music] Saigon Soul Revival – Họa Âm Xưa

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2019 was a great year for a soul revival, and The Saigon Soul Revival end this trend on a very high note.  From their Bandcamp site:

Saigon Soul Revival has been on a quest to reawaken the raw, enchanting sounds of 1960’s and 70’s Vietnam; a time when passionate music resonated in Saigon’s streets and clubs with messages of love, heartache, hope and freedom. Amongst the turmoil of war, there was a rich cultural climate that fused popular genres of the day like rock, soul and bolero with Vietnamese music and lyrics. This fusion of sounds that bridged east and west became forbidden after the fall of Saigon in 1975 and almost vanished. Four decades later Saigon Soul Revival was born with the initial purpose of bringing these dormant sounds back to the stage. After numerous live performances over the last 3 years, the band has developed their own sound and now, with the release of their debut album “Họa Âm Xưa”, they are ready to share it with the rest of the world. The 11 track LP, including original compositions and nostalgic reinterpretations, blends traditional Vietnamese elements with modern concepts, featuring pre ‘75 and current artists, all while remaining firmly rooted in the “nhạc vàng” (golden music) of the time. Meaning “Old Harmonies”, Saigon Soul Revival is proud to present “Họa Âm Xưa” as a tribute to the artists and composers of the time that inspired them to create this marriage between past and present.