Whereas their last album shot up and away, this one lingers in the mind. Part of that is due to the sheer length (70 minutes as opposed to the previous 40 minute Vertical Ascent). There’s a whole lot they’ve learned since their last outing. Listening to this in giant headphones helps, as the sound is enormous, enveloping virtually everything in its path.
For one thing, there are new elements added to the mix. Bass (by Marc Muellbauer) and guitar (Paul St. Hilaire, also known as frequent collaborator Tikiman) add new sounds, allowing for an even greater moodiness than what existed before. Having seen the group at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City last year, it sounds like they’ve embraced some of the smokier, deeper sounds from their live show on this particular album to their benefit.
I don’t know how Moritz Von Oswald does this, but he manages to loosen up the playing. Compared to the previous album, this one feels a lot more open. Perhaps it’s the ever changing nature of the sounds, or how the electronic mixing feels even more ghostly. Somehow these guys manage to bring together vastly different genres yet again, though this time things are far more spacious than before. A tropical vibe is prevalent throughout all five tracks.
Like their previous outing, all the tracks are untitled. The first one barely sets into a groove before morphing into another unknown structure. Following close after is Paul’s great guitar work, which feels perfectly limber. Moritz’s keyboards are well-complimented by these small sounds. Our third track has the most active guitar work as the bass is heavily felt. Perhaps this middle track is the most accessible track on here. By track four, the twenty minute beast, they are able to create a frenzied kind of tension with the percussion as delicate keyboards shift surprisingly quickly. Finally, we’re lead away by track 5’s ambience.
Truth be told, it is an improvement from an already good point. Note this is a grower, so multiple listens really suit it best. Moritz has done a great job of being a cult-like figure, a status which only continues to grow with strange, unclassifiable products such as this one.