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Is it any coincidence that Blanck Mass' latest album is out on Sacred Bones? The same album that is home to John Carpenter's Lost Themes album? I think not. And I'm pretty sure that Benjamin John Power, otherwise known as half of electro-ambient punks Fuck Buttons, will agree on that. Power has never hidden his admiration for John Carpenter and never was it more apparant than on his this new album. 2011 saw the release of his eponymous debut album, a departure from the rhythmical work of Fuck Buttons, creating his own brand of blissed-out ambient. Inspired by artists like Brian Eno, Vangelis, Tangerine Dream, Jean Michel Jarre, Klaus Schulze and at the same time retaining a lot of that epic sound of Fuck Buttons. And to use an understatement: that record didn't go by unnoticed. In fact, it gained worldwide fame when the track 'Sundowner' was used for the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Power released a 12", 2012's White Math/Polymorph, where a glimpse of things to come was to be heard. Full-on beats, big rhythms colliding with analogue synths to create a truely old-school techno feel. Leaning much more soundwise to the Fuck Buttons material, while still sounding undeniably unique like Blanck Mass. And now it is time for the second full-length, entitled Dumb Flesh, with a fleshy album cover and a fleshed out sound (that's all for the flesh metaphors, promised) where everything seems to fall into place.
Opening track 'Loam' starts the album on a very creepy/weird note, with slowed down, warbly, backwards vocals layered on tape hiss and a warm fuzzy synth drone. After a stuttering end to that song, we are thrown on the dance floor with 'Dead Format' where the similarities between Fuck Buttons and Blanck Mass become really apparant. Big (and I mean BIIIIIG) sounding analogue synths, accompanied by undeniable classic techno beats and distorted voice/singing samples. I'm not much of a dancer, but I would definitely go to a club that plays this kind of techno. 'No Lite' is next and here's were the Carpenter influences become really obvious. It plays out like a dark, brooding '80s sci-fi/horror soundtrack, albeit more glitchy and way more epic. His love for Jean Michel Jarre (who is a big Fuck Buttons fan himself) comes out of hiding in 'Atrophies' and remains apparant throughout the rest of the album. There's even some synthesized guitars rearing their heads every now and then, sheer brilliance. And on the final track, 'Detritus' we find Robert Lowe of Lichens on guest vocals.
There's no questions that while the debut album focussed on your mind, Dumb Flesh focusses on your entire body. There is no way that you can remain still when this is played in a dark club, stroboscopes and fog machines working overtime.. To wrap things up; if you feel you need a mix of everything that's great about Jean Michel Jarre, John Carpenter, Fuck Buttons, with the bliss and epic dials all the way to eleven (and trust me you do) you best pick up what will most likely be one of the best, if not THE best electronic albums of this year...
Bjorn
Power released a 12", 2012's White Math/Polymorph, where a glimpse of things to come was to be heard. Full-on beats, big rhythms colliding with analogue synths to create a truely old-school techno feel. Leaning much more soundwise to the Fuck Buttons material, while still sounding undeniably unique like Blanck Mass. And now it is time for the second full-length, entitled Dumb Flesh, with a fleshy album cover and a fleshed out sound (that's all for the flesh metaphors, promised) where everything seems to fall into place.
Opening track 'Loam' starts the album on a very creepy/weird note, with slowed down, warbly, backwards vocals layered on tape hiss and a warm fuzzy synth drone. After a stuttering end to that song, we are thrown on the dance floor with 'Dead Format' where the similarities between Fuck Buttons and Blanck Mass become really apparant. Big (and I mean BIIIIIG) sounding analogue synths, accompanied by undeniable classic techno beats and distorted voice/singing samples. I'm not much of a dancer, but I would definitely go to a club that plays this kind of techno. 'No Lite' is next and here's were the Carpenter influences become really obvious. It plays out like a dark, brooding '80s sci-fi/horror soundtrack, albeit more glitchy and way more epic. His love for Jean Michel Jarre (who is a big Fuck Buttons fan himself) comes out of hiding in 'Atrophies' and remains apparant throughout the rest of the album. There's even some synthesized guitars rearing their heads every now and then, sheer brilliance. And on the final track, 'Detritus' we find Robert Lowe of Lichens on guest vocals.
There's no questions that while the debut album focussed on your mind, Dumb Flesh focusses on your entire body. There is no way that you can remain still when this is played in a dark club, stroboscopes and fog machines working overtime.. To wrap things up; if you feel you need a mix of everything that's great about Jean Michel Jarre, John Carpenter, Fuck Buttons, with the bliss and epic dials all the way to eleven (and trust me you do) you best pick up what will most likely be one of the best, if not THE best electronic albums of this year...
Bjorn