Category: albums/eps

[album] Das Beat – Identität

acute.pop

In the music of Berlin duo Das Beat we can hear how many sound elements can be blended together absolutely organically. There are bits of classic Italo disco, Eurodance, synth pop, some references to dark techno and many more shades of electronic music.

On their debut release Identität (out now via Arbutus), Eddie Rabenberger and Agor (Blue Hawaii) mix their musical skills to great effect and create a truly immersive journey into the sonic past.

This is an honest, eclectic and powerful body of work that shows on its example that it is possible to dance at home in a dark bedroom, even during the toughest lockdown.

Stream below and buy the EP here.

[album] EXEK – Good Thing They Ripped Up The Carpet

acute.pop

Australians EXEK remain consistently great, recording one fantastic album after another since their formation in 2014. The latest one, Good Thing They Ripped Up The Carpet, which was released yesterday through Lulu’s Sonic Disc Club, is not an exception.

The group’s sound can probably be described as post-punk, but there is nothing trivial or conventional about this LP to be able to categorize it. All kinds of unique stuff is packed all over the record. You will hear the elements of dub, hints of krautrock, ambient and even field recordings. Some songs can feel a bit atonal but others are very melodic and coloured with beautiful light noise, connecting the dots and making the album one organic whole.

One more interesting fact is that, as described by the band, first half of the material is new and was written and recorded in 2020, while side B is a compilation of tracks that have been used to contribute to other people’s releases. Hence here we can hear the different points of the group’s career in one weird, exciting and complex collection that becomes more and more interesting with every listen.

Stream below and purchase the album on Bandcamp.

[album] Brodka – Brut

acute.pop

For her fifth LP, Polish artist Monika Brodka teamed up with her English friends, first recording a fantastic track with Dan Carey & Scottibrains, and then releasing a new English-language album Brut. It was produced by Oli Beiston, known for his project Boxed In and his work on releases by Kelly Lee Owens, Spiritualized and Toy.

The fresh record of singer-songwriter is saturated with retro music elements: she masterfully fuses her pop sensibilities with synth lines, coldwave grooves and angular guitars. It results in a stunning record full of catchy songs and glorious art direction with a strong personality and contemporary touch.

Stream below and buy the album here.

[album] Kaktus Einarsson – Kick The Ladder

acute.pop

On his debut album, Icelandic singer-songwriter and Fufanu frontman Kaktus Einarsson appears with beautiful lyrics and warm production with very rich, organic instrumentation.

As described by the author, there are no artificial effects on the record and his ambition was performed in the best possible way.

Clocking in at nearly 50 minutes, the modern classical graciously meets pop music on this grand release, which was created in Reykjavik, developed in Copenhagen and finished in New York.

Listen below and purchase the LP here.

[album] FACS – Present Tense

acute.pop

Chicago-based FACS have always had a rather heavy sound with unusual guitar structures and tricky instrument combinations. But their newest LP Present Tense seems to be their most accessible, while still being quite harsh and visceral for the unprepared listener.

On it the trio once again create their own unique post-genre world, that is full of overloaded guitars, noisy mechanics, winding rhythms and dark atmosphere of aggravating anxiety. Even during the sunny days of May the album will transport you to the underground, with the feel like you are listening to it inside the abandoned factory. Great stuff.

Stream below and buy the record here.