Upon first hearing South Australian artist Diminished you think of cold, stark visions of the electronica coming from Eastern Europe in the 1970s. The energy feels the same, as does the attitude; icy, unresponsive, maybe even hostile. 'Cinematic' isn't an EP to warm the cockles of your heart. You can hear the robotic sounds of Kraftwerk and the retro synth work of Eno and even Jean Michel Jarre. It's concrete, cold and desolate, just like the remains of the old Eastern Bloc that stand like statues as a reminder of an oppressive regime that no longer exists.
The mood is lightened, but not by much. 'The Revived' could be krautrock slowed-down to become more ambient; it's mechanical and inhuman, as if the music is programmed by robots rather than a person. Instead of being off-putting, it's this aspect that draws you in even more. What is it and why is it there? And who is it for? 'The Awakening' is lighter still, so maybe the EP is something of a journey from the very barren to a warmer and more accommodating place. It's left to final track 'The Fixation' to let us know. And it does. Despite being a terrific song, there is no light at the end of the tunnel, no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Just bleak, chilly, inhospitable electronica, and it's all the more fascinating for it.
Diminished's website
Stream or buy the EP
For more news, reviews and downloads follow The Sound Of Confusion on Facebook or Twitter
contact@thesoundofconfusion.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment