VON SPAR - UNDER PRESSURE - BUREAU B - OUT NOW
Cologne's prog-electronic-pop outfit Von Spar have been active for a decade and a half yet have remained under the UK radar for pretty much most of that time. With fifth album Under Pressure, that situation might just change for the better. Artful pop combined with brain-teasing progressive song-structures seems to be prime material for the likes of BBC 6 Music these days, so the foursome's reflective and thoughtful approach to songwriting ought to be rewarded with airplay, if nothing else.
Guest vocalists include Flying Lizards' Vivien Goldman, Stereolab's Laetitia Sadier, maverick troubadour R Stevie Moore and crooner Chris A Cummings aka Marker Starling, all adding their own trademark tonsils to proceedings. Not surprisingly, the music reflects the guest's creative tendencies. Sadier's Extend The Song is motorik and slightly trippy, while Moore's woozy drawl lends an eerie air to the dubbed up minimalism of Falsetto Giuseppe. Goldman's Boyfriends is also slightly eccentric in deliver with its hushed tones and jaywalking beat, while more mainstream (after a fashion) are the Cummings tracks. Imagine if Everything Everything calmed down a bit - that's A Dream and Happiness to a tee.
There's an element of prog about Better Late and the closing Mont Ventoux - discordant drum-patterns and twisted chord structures send both tracks careering from one corner to another but the emphasis remains on melody.
All told, Under Pressure rewards repeated listens with its inventive and resonant compositions. Nice work. N.B. a limited violet vinyl format exists if you're quick.
8/10
Guest vocalists include Flying Lizards' Vivien Goldman, Stereolab's Laetitia Sadier, maverick troubadour R Stevie Moore and crooner Chris A Cummings aka Marker Starling, all adding their own trademark tonsils to proceedings. Not surprisingly, the music reflects the guest's creative tendencies. Sadier's Extend The Song is motorik and slightly trippy, while Moore's woozy drawl lends an eerie air to the dubbed up minimalism of Falsetto Giuseppe. Goldman's Boyfriends is also slightly eccentric in deliver with its hushed tones and jaywalking beat, while more mainstream (after a fashion) are the Cummings tracks. Imagine if Everything Everything calmed down a bit - that's A Dream and Happiness to a tee.
There's an element of prog about Better Late and the closing Mont Ventoux - discordant drum-patterns and twisted chord structures send both tracks careering from one corner to another but the emphasis remains on melody.
All told, Under Pressure rewards repeated listens with its inventive and resonant compositions. Nice work. N.B. a limited violet vinyl format exists if you're quick.
8/10