Cologne based duo Mouse On Mars were never ones to approach things from a normal angle, and they're not about to start now on this new album for Domino.
The video for 'Actionist Respoke', their current single is ample proof of that. CLICK ABOVE TO WATCH VIDEO.
That said, fans might be surprised at the seeming alacrity and confidence that this project possesses compared to their usual, more considered outings.
The first single to be taken from the LP - 'Actionist Respoke' - starts the fun and illustrates immediately the duo's new approach. The track sounds like a punk-vocal two step track that's been smacked around, dragged through a muddy river and been left clawing and gasping for air yet - certainly by MOM's standards - still retains an air of accessibility.
The next track, 'Subsequence', seems even more geared towards some crossover success, with it's blend of hip hop beats, dub sensibilities and quite disarming piano riffs. 'Presence' then sees the duo make even more overt inroads into vocals, albeit accompanied by a delightfully crooked melody and an obscure blend of live instruments and electronica.
The 'Illking' offers classical strings layered so that the melodies interact sometimes harmoniously, sometimes not - and is a more typical example of their calculated, precise organics. With other songs offering playful takes on dubby house ('Doit'), cacophonous, glitch-filled drill & bass ('First:Break'), philosophical tracts ('Unity Concepts') and gorgeous countrified acoustics ('Fantastic Analysis').
As usual, the duo have mixed up rough edged mayhem with uncompromising beauty; not only that, but they have shown again their tendency to turn the former into the latter with consummate ease.
9/10
by Paul Sullivan