Nexsound-special (III)
Part three in this series of superb netaudio-releases is the LP When I’m Not by Bluermutt, a guy from Rome, Italy. When Nexsound posted this record in the usual forums, they wrote something about a ‘very poppy release’. This made me listen up. And indeed, compared with the remarkable backcatalogue of the Ukrainian Netlabel, this one is quite an easy record. Don’t get me wrong- I think it’s more difficult to walk the thin red line between experimentalism and keeping the listener attracted than letting preassigned algorhythms spit out four hours of noise, and Bluermutt deserves every praise I can bring up.
The opening track ‘The Lonely Anthropologist‘ sounds like a mixture between Jan Jelinek and german Alt. Country-band Contriva. That lonley guitar-motive (sic!) is really beautiful and suits the dense synth-backup seamlessly. ‘To Hate To Know‘ has a similar mood and features some processed voice-samples that makes me think of Savath & Savalas. Nice cello! At position number three, Bluermutt introduces some dubby influences. At the same time, ‘The Failure Of Translation‘ comes up with hypnotic noisy synthesizers, the guitar-sounds we know from song one and nice music box-ticktack. Another dull comparison? Mapstation.
The second half of When I’m Not starts with ‘Pieces Of Waiting‘ and ‘Emply Bottles‘ at six and seven. Boy Bluermutt introduces some beats more tangible, especially the bottle-samples in track seven work fine with the rhythmical concept. ‘In My Eyes‘ afterwards has a strong Minimal Music-feel and reminds me of early Mapstation, once again. Simple composition, big outcome.
Two songs give you a smooth fade-out. ‘Palindromic Necessities‘ develops it’s catchy melody over nearly six minutes and leaves you stunning. Forget about that Indietronica posterboys you used to cry to! The best thing: last track ‘Shaping My Vision Of A Nice Day‘ is even better! Rewind guitars, heart-rendering 70’s synth-flutes and some sparse beats, that’s everything Bluermutt needs to make you trash your Notwist- and Postal Service-records. Phew.
Get the record here: When I’m Not
Direct download: Get the zip-file!
