The
Cultural Studies – Recycled Press (Sub Continental)
DL
Out
Now
8
/ 10
Electronic European/American duo release their
debut album.
Largely spoken word, Recycled Press is a punchy
and occasionally raw sounding album combined with dancey, electro beats it
offers an alternative slant on modern day pop.
Considered as a musical genius Oskar Pompa spent his formative years in
Slovakia and after a chance meeting with American ‘Eric’ at Spector Studio in
Brussels, The Cultural Studies was formed.
Recent single The Automaton, aside from being the
album highlight, is a fascinating and sometimes amusing diction on the World banking
system. “I want my money back” is the
catchy strapline which accompanies a frenetic backing with Eric sounding very
much like actor Bill Murray. In fact,
once that image is in your head, it’s hard to shift.
It is the spoken word, almost poetic style that
sets this album aside from its contemporaries.
Cosmic Journey has a backing at times with more than a hint of Taking
Heads’ Once In A Lifetime and it’s those comparisons that add to the albums
charm.
On efforts more akin to singing, the album loses
a little impetus. Yellow Dance for
instance descends into a mediocre pop track without the edge that its
predecessors contain but normal service is resumed with Car-Men a thoroughly entertaining
diction over a pattering backbeat.
The title track tackles power, corruption and
lies within a wonderful electro-reggae beat, and Bastardification, aside from
having one of the best song titles of the year, deals with the tabletisation of
society. Shapeshifter is slightly
experimental in its backing with added vocals over a delightfully unconstrained
flexibility. A tale of vampire sorts has
some Pet Shop Boys influence and terrific pounding percussion.
Amongst the incisive percussion of album closer
Supernature, Ricky Gervais gets a mention in the same line as squirrels and the
continued black humour of Recycled Press is once more present amongst the
occasional profanity.
It’s not a perfect album, but it’s
imperfections make it some essential listening and there are plenty of ideas
abound from the duo which bode well for future releases. When The Cultural Studies get it right, they
get it spot-on and it’s those moments which make them one to keep an eye on.
Links
Sub-Continental Records
The Cultural Studies website
The Cultural Studies on Twitter
The Cultural Studies on Facebook
Pet Shop Boys on hiapop Blog
Pubished on Louder Than war 21/05/16 - here
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