Review: Extraordinary pieces of music have long stood in direct correlation to the physical surroundings that inspire them. When Oliver Koletzki and Niko Schwind packed up their Berlin studios last April to spend a month locked away in a cottage nestled in the stunning nature of Cape Town's Noordhoek area before heading to AfrikaBurn, little did they know that its long beaches, dramatic mountain views and the heritage of its indigenous people would have such a profound effect on the club-ready sound they had championed with a string of EPs and live-performances since 2015. The result of four weeks of geo-cultural stimuli and creative experimentation culminated in the album Noordhoek, released in May 2018 on Stil vor Talent.
Review: On his sixth album, Berlin based DJ, label owner and producer Oliver Koletzki presents his remarkable vision of contemporary electronic music. The Arc of Tension speaks to its listener as a singular, self contained work, which communicates by way of its natural flow and arc of suspense. The latter is mirrored not only in the multifarious narrative of the actual album, but can also be understood as evidence for its creator's long musical history. While Koletzki focused on a diverse range of vocal collaborations on his previous long players, he now moves on to a different form of storytelling, rooted in the quiet confidence of a veteran musician, as well as the hectic lifestyle of a globally in demand DJ. The Arc of Tension is the 'psychoanalytic' journey through the various continents of Oliver's consciousness.
Review: Having previously guested on the mic for the likes of Dominik Eulberg and label boss Oliver Koletzki, Fran lets rip with her own solo album. With every flavour of the pop and electronic rainbow, it's a hard piece of work to pin down. One moment we're rocking to a fiddle-flicked country stomp ("Down"), the next we're jiving to a classic Kelis riff ("JayJay"), the next we're swept away in an emotional rush a la Kate Bush (the wonderfully titled "Cheesecake Mountain"). One thing that keeps the myriad styles in check is Fran's powerful vocal delivery. Think Annie, think a slightly diluted Bjork, think 'a jolly worthwhile album experience'.
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