V/A"WE’RE PUNCH ADDICTED"
Review on DARKROOM (Italian text)
L'etichetta italiana Punch torna alla produzione di una compilation tre anni dopo l'uscita dell'ormai raro LP "Drinking To Better Days", mirando in questa occasione sia a presentare i nomi del proprio roster che a promuovere molti nuovi act tramite 18 inediti che, come annunciato, non saranno ristampati; la release è inoltre impreziosita da una tiratura di sole 500 copie. La prima parte del CD è fortemente incentrata su quelle sonorità minimal-electro, spesso memori dei DAF e degli Absolute Body Control, tanto amate dal titolare della label Tairy Ceron e ripercorse in vario modo da dieci artisti diversi. L'apertura è delle migliori grazie a due pezzi eccellenti: "Luces Blancas" dei Comando Suzie, che mescola la malinconia ad echi sintetici anni '80, e "I Wanna Be Your Mann..." del padrone di casa Ait!, pezzo in cui le meccaniche moderne vengono fuse a toni (post) punk rilevabili sia nelle ritmiche che nel titolo. Seguono quindi alcuni nomi meno noti: gli oscuri J.G. Cabargas & Los Inmortales, forieri di un sound low-fi non lontano da quello che poteva scaturire trent'anni fa da una pianola Casio, la dance molto minimale di Nina Belief e i rumori cibernetici accompagnati da ritmiche retrò di The Plague Year Of Audioscope. L'italiano Erik Ursich, già prodotto a più riprese dalla Punch, non si discosta dal suo tipico ambient anni '70 in odore di colonna sonora di qualche B-movie di fantascienza, mentre Pierre Normal sarà una felice scoperta per chi ama Position Parallèle: le rapide percussioni sintetiche e i synth analogici accompagnano infatti due voci francofone per un brano estremamente interessante; si stanzia sulle medesime tonalità anche il giovane progetto Ronin, sebbene le ritmiche siano più riflessive. Il bulgaro Manasyt si diverte a mescolare motivi robotici, diviso tra una evidente passione per il synthpop più raffinato del passato e le derive attuali dell'elettronica. Ritmiche soft e tappeti di tastiera ossessivi sono alla base di "She Devours" di Merging Of The Self: uno dei nomi nuovi che va a sposarsi perfettamente con il sound della compilation. Con "Teach Me Pain" dei Divine Muzak si cambia in parte sound, e si compie una bellissima fusione tra toni blues/lounge derivati da chitarra e fisarmonica e una drum-machine dall'andamento post-punk: senza dubbio un duo da tenere sott'occhio. Decisamente prevedibile invece la prova di Ô Paradis, che ripete senza troppi cambiamenti il suo stile stanco e malinconico, in parte debitore di Nový Svet; per contro appare assai in forma la bizzarra orchestra di Thomas Nöla, che in "Freedom's Little Baby" applica una vivace ritmica wave a suoni blues che rimandano ai Bad Seeds, mentre il nostro Raffaele Cerroni/Mushroom's Patience dà il suo apporto con un pezzo rilassante e ambientale, sicuramente lontano dai suoi standard. Il finale del sampler è segnato da un ritorno al settore industriale: prima con "T.h.e.k.l.a.9" di 1997EV, pezzo potente e ipnotico, ben scandito da una percussività travolgente, poi dai tribalismi sperimentali e rumorosi dei Terroritmo, quindi dalla marzialità dei Luftwaffe (un progetto che forse non ha ancora ricevuto l'attenzione e il plauso che merita), ed infine con la chiusa un po' maldestra dell'act croato Smrt I Cekic, fautore di un noise datato e scarsamente originale. "We're Punch Addicted" è un lavoro studiato nei minimi particolari, in grado di testimoniare il crescente interesse verso i suoni elettronico-minimali che stanno coinvolgendo sempre più nomi in questi ultimi anni, ma capace anche di evidenziare una probabile svolta nella produzione della Punch, prima più devota ad un folk-lounge da fumoso cabaret e a toni post-industrial (di cui rimangono tracce forti anche in questa compilation), ed ora più proiettata verso ritmiche asettiche e analogiche.
Review by:
Michele Viali
V/A"WE’RE PUNCH ADDICTED"
Review on BROKENDOLLS (French and English text)
French Version:
Deuxième compilation pour Punch Records, après l'excellente Drinking To Better Days, orientée neo folk/cabaret qui était sortie en 2005. "We'Re Punch Addicted" semble nous présenter la nouvelle orientation du label. Toujours en quête d'artistes originaux, provenant d'univers variés, mais pas forcément opposés.
18 artistes pour 70 minutes de musique, partagés entre habitués du label et petit nouveaux. "We'Re Punch Addicted" mêle la nouvelle scène minimale analogique avec des choses plus neo folk et expérimentales. On y trouve tout ce que j'aime, des sons analogiques, des influences electro, cabaret, folk, industriel, rétro, sans oublier une petite dose de mystique et de sacré. Une grande partie de la contre culture industrielle et de son héritage est représentée ici. L'influence de la Neue Deutsche Welle avec Nina Belief et "Android Emotions", un titre totalement 80ies mais si bon. Ou encore avec Comando Suzie et "Luces Blancas" plus sombre qu'a l'accoutumée, ou bien Piere Normal et "Attraction" véritable tube, chanté en français par un duo féminin/masculin de toute beauté. Un morceau rageur et sombre, où l'electronique s'emballe et finit par vous survolter. Ronin et Manasyt font dans l'analogique mélodique, deux instrumentaux intéressants avec une mention spéciale pour Ronin. Manasyst flirtant plus avec la techno à mon goût. Merging Of The Self et "She Devours" est plus expérimental et mystérieux, ainsi que Erick Ursich avec "Teater Somnium" où les manipulations analogiques sont toujours aussi complexes et intrigantes. The Plague Year Of Audioscope fait dans l'industriel old school façon Dive, sans être réellement convaincant. AIT! l'est beaucoup plus avec "I Wanna Be Your Mann ..." morceau completement destroy, du rock'n roll analogique torturé. Divine Muzak est tout simplement divin, "Teach Me Pain" est superbe, entre rock psyché et cabaret, orgue et guitare sont entêtant et les voix parfaites. Thomas Nolla Et Son Orchestre sont dans la même veine, "Freedom's Little Baby" est un inédit de grande classe. Ö Paradis et Mushroom Patience ne se présentent plus, deux formations qui se sont imposées depuis longtemps. La fin du cd devient plus industrielle, 1997EV avec "t.h.e.k.l.a.9" propose un rythme martelé et tribal, un backround noisy, qui viennent contraster avec un orgue liturgique. Terroritmo distille une musique rituelle et énigmatique où incantations et chants religieux se perdent sur un rythme lent et mécanique. Luftwaffe est comme à son habitude hargneux et vindicatif, mais "Killingkorps" n'arrive toujours pas à me faire apprécier ce groupe. Question de feeling peut être.
We'Re Punch Addicted est une bonne compilation, seuls trois ou quatre groupes sont un peu basiques, à l'image de Smrt I Cekic ou J.G Cabargas & Los Inmortales. Elle a le mérite de ne présenter que des morceaux inédits, et aussi de nous faire découvrir des formations prometteuses, à l'image de Pierre Normal et Divine Muzak.
English Version:
The second compilation from Punch Records after the excellent Drinking To Better Days, directed neo folk song / cabaret which had gone out in 2005. "We' Re Punch Addicted" seems to present us the new orientation of the label. Always in search of original artists, resulting from varied universes, but not necessarily opposite.
18 artists for music 70 minutes, shared between usual artists of the label and some new bands. "We' Re Punch Addicted" mixes the new analogical minimal scene with more neo folk song and experimental sounds. We find all there that I like, analogical sounds, influences electro, cabaret, folk song, manufacturer, retro without forgetting a small dose of mystic and of sacred. A big part of the industrial culture and of its inheritance is represented here.The influence of the Neue Deutsche Welle with Nina Belief and "Android Emotions", a title totally 80ies but so good. Or still with Comando Suzie and "Luce Blancas" darker than has usualy, either Piere Normal and real "Attraction" a hit, sung in French by a beautiful feminine / male duet. A furious and dark piece, where the electronic is carried away and boosts you. Ronin and Manasyt makes in analogical melodic, 2 interesting instrumental with a special mention for Ronin. Manasyst flirting more with the techno to my taste. Merging Of The Self and "She Devours" is more experimental and more mysterious, as well as Erick Ursich with "Teater Somnium" always with analogical manipulations who are always so complex and intriguing. The Plague Year Of Audioscope makes in the manufacturer old school way as Dive, without being really convincing. AIT! with "I Wanna Be Your Mann" give to us a great destroy piece, of the rock n roll analogical so tortured. Divine Muzak is simply divine, "Teach Me Pain" is magnificent, between rock psyche and cabaret, organ and guitar are intoxicating and the voices are so perfect. Thomas Nolla And His Orchestra are in the same vein, " Of Freedom Little Baby " is an unpublished work so elegant. Ô Paradise and Mushroom Patience are well know now, and always so good since a long time. The end of the cd becomes more industrial, 1997EV with "t.h.e.k.l.a.9" propose a beaten and tribal rhythm, a backround noisy, which come to contrast with a liturgical organ. Terroritmo distils a ritual and enigmatic music where incantations and religious singings get lost on a slow and mechanical rhythm. Luftwaffe is as usual fretful and vindictive, but " Killingkorps " but even with this new track i don't arrive to appreciate them, maybe a question of feelings.
We' Re Punch Addicted is a good compilation, only three or four groups are a little bit basic, as Smrt I Cekic or J.G Cabargas and Los Inmortales. This VA has also the merit to present only unpublished songs, and also to make us discover promising formations, as Pierre Normal and Divine Muzak.
Review by:
svet_9
V/A"WE’RE PUNCH ADDICTED"
Review on GOTHTRONIC (English text)
The Punch Records label from Italy has managed to obtain a good standing in the World of post-industrial, vintage avantgarde and neofolk sounds in a relatively short time-span with releases of a.o. Novy Svet, O Paradis, Mushroom's Patience, Luftwaffe and of course the project of the label chief Tairy himself, AIT! It is about time for a label sampler. We're Punch Addicted is the title and this compilation shows in 18 tracks what this label has to offer and what it represents musically as well as stylistically. This goes from the post-industrial and Mediterranean atmospheres of O Paradis in 'El Tacto' to the experimental analogue electronic sounds of Eric Ursich. AIT! has delivered a great song with 'I Wanna Be Your Mann….'.
Vintage sounds and minimal electro dominate on this Punch Records disc and this we not only get presented by the Spanish Comando Suzie with 'Luces Blancas' but also by J.G. Cabargas & Los Immortales with 'Psycho Baby', Nina Belief with 'Android Emotions' and Pierre Normal with 'Attraction'. Especially this last song by Pierre Normal sounds very convincing. Also 'Cri Du Chat' from Ronin, 'Every Fang for You' from Manasyt are great spherical dark tunes and this also goes for the more experimental ''She Devours' from Merging of the Self.
Divine Muzak seeks it in the direction of Ennio Morricone with the convincing 'Teach Me Pain' and also Thomas Nola et son Orchestre dares to enter cinematographic atmospheres in 'Freedom's Little Baby' which also reminds strongly of Nick Cave . The recording furthermore contains strong tracks from Mushroom's Patience with the spherical 'Morel', 1997EV with the psychedelic flavoured 't.h.k.l.a.9' and Luftwaffe with the powerful sounding 'Killkorps'. The Plague Year of Audioscope however does not manage to deliver with their claustrophobic version of industrial pop in 'Lasting'.
Novy Svet is strikingly enough not present on this compilation . We're Punch Addicted introduces much new talent which is nice as you can not only discover some new acts because of that, but it also more or less shows the direction Punch Records is heading for. This makes We're Punch Addicted an accomplished label sampler which makes curious to what will come next on this sympathetic young label. We're Punch Addicted is limited to 500 copies.
Review by:
TekNoir
V/A"WE’RE PUNCH ADDICTED"
Review on CHAIN D.L.K. (English text)
Listening to the latest label releases I wouldn't wait for such a compilation with so much electronic bands (10 out of 18). The first label compilation has 18 bands and their songs are exclusive to this CD which is limited to 500 copies. You'll find bands coming from the label's roster as well as a lot of great newcomers that will please all the lovers of minimal electronics as well lovers of original experimental wave. Names like J.G. Cabargas & Los Immortales Nina Belief, The Plague Year Of Audioscope, Pierre Normal, Ronin, Manasyt, Merging Of The Self didn't make me ring any bell, as they were totally unknown to me, but they definitely will in the future because their style which span from minimal electronic obsession to cold wave with retro synth sound is really convincing and involving and for sure if you are into Porn Darsteller, early Die Form, etc, you'll love them all. Comando Suzie, Ait! and Eirk Ursich, confirmed here with their new tracks the judgment I had when I reviewed their latest albums (all positive). The second half of the compilation (the less electronic one) opens with Divine Muzak and their western movie cabaret atmosphere. O Paradis with "El tacto" perform one of their minimal melancholic ballads. Thomas Nola Et Son Orchestre bring one of their Nick Cave like upbeat ballads with slide guitar, piano and organ, titled "Freedom's little baby". Mushroom's Patience on "Morel" is here with a cinematic melancholic instrumental track. 1997EV present "t.h.e.k.l.a. 9", a powerful psychedelic tribal track based on vocals, organ, fuzz guitars and percussions. Terroritmo perform a obscure experimental ritualistic track based on chants, whispered vocals and percussions. Lutwaffe are the only new-folk band of the lot and "Killkorps" mix industrial percussions, vocal loops and vocals creating a powerful track which "cries" rage. The compilation closes with the experimental insustrialism of Smrt I Cekic and their hypnotic "S.o.n.i.c.m.a.n.t.r.a.s.". Personally I'm mostly fascinated by the electronic bands/sounds but also the other bands brought interesting tracks which deserve your attention. WE ARE PUNCH ADDICTED is more than a simple label compilation and you should consider its purchase.
Review by:
Maurizio Pustianaz
