experimental / noise / noise rock
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Improv is fun, that's for damn sure. A few years ago, I played in an improv-noise duo, having a great time exploring the boundaries of our instruments or just blast out some severe noise to rip the listener's head to pieces. Of course, it doesn't always have to be heavily distorted guitar drones to remain interesting. Sometimes the beauty of improv simply lies in the unexpected touches of musicality, which is the case on this strange album.
Spook is a trio from Lausanne, Switzerland, armed with violin, electronics and drums. They're quite new to the scene, and I don't even know which scene I'm talking about. Is it the noise-scene? Is it the jazz-scene? Yes, jazz, probably because of the whole experimental approach which reminds me a lot of many free-jazz acts I've seen and heard. I feel like these are indeed trained musicians with a wide background.
In eight instrumentals, Spook come up with an unpredictable and highly surprising sound, somewhere between the electronic chaos of Black Dice and the bizarre art of Fantomas. But I also recognize influences from other acts, some gritty shoegaze and noise rock bands like Sonic Youth or The Melvins. The opener, and title track, immediately shows what this acts stands for: absolute weirdness, confusing but addictive.
During the entire album I caught myself thinking 'what the hell is this and why is it so immersive?'. With every passage I getting more and more excited about what will follow. What follows is pretty much always a surprise, whether it's harsh noise, experimental ambient or straightforward rock music with the experimental approach of Zappa. Even after a few listens, this album keeps on surprising me, which obviously is a massive plus.
Sometimes it's minimal, kind and gentle, like in 'Shall We Go?' but most of the time, this album is dynamic and intense like in the great track 'Grand Parade In Bottens Part 3'. 'Godzilla' even comes close to doom or post-rock, be it in a weird and unpredictable way, like Merzbow would make it perhaps. The only certainty is the fact that this album will often make you look at your speakers, with a "what???" look on your face.
Serge
Spook is a trio from Lausanne, Switzerland, armed with violin, electronics and drums. They're quite new to the scene, and I don't even know which scene I'm talking about. Is it the noise-scene? Is it the jazz-scene? Yes, jazz, probably because of the whole experimental approach which reminds me a lot of many free-jazz acts I've seen and heard. I feel like these are indeed trained musicians with a wide background.
In eight instrumentals, Spook come up with an unpredictable and highly surprising sound, somewhere between the electronic chaos of Black Dice and the bizarre art of Fantomas. But I also recognize influences from other acts, some gritty shoegaze and noise rock bands like Sonic Youth or The Melvins. The opener, and title track, immediately shows what this acts stands for: absolute weirdness, confusing but addictive.
During the entire album I caught myself thinking 'what the hell is this and why is it so immersive?'. With every passage I getting more and more excited about what will follow. What follows is pretty much always a surprise, whether it's harsh noise, experimental ambient or straightforward rock music with the experimental approach of Zappa. Even after a few listens, this album keeps on surprising me, which obviously is a massive plus.
Sometimes it's minimal, kind and gentle, like in 'Shall We Go?' but most of the time, this album is dynamic and intense like in the great track 'Grand Parade In Bottens Part 3'. 'Godzilla' even comes close to doom or post-rock, be it in a weird and unpredictable way, like Merzbow would make it perhaps. The only certainty is the fact that this album will often make you look at your speakers, with a "what???" look on your face.
Serge