This week’s pack of three features three post-punk albums I have been spinning on the digital turntable and enjoying of late.
Schimmel über Berlin – Eisenmund [Billo (DE)]
Germany, particularly labels & acts from the old German Democratic Republic, is an essential go to for any discerning post-punk fan. The Berlin based Billo is one such label, especially for those who enjoy the quirkier side of the genre.
Schimmel über Berlin’s Eisenmund is the latest release, it’s a fantastic listen thanks to songs such as Schreck, Schattenriss and Taifun which are as good as any I have heard this year. The strong female vocals, especially when sung in a spoken style, grab the attention over the urgent guitars and synths. If you want pointers, the music here reminds me of Gang Of Four, Delta 5, Modern English and The Normal. Play absolutely loud.
Eisenmund is available in a range of formats from the label.
Onyon – Pale Horses [Swish Swash Records (FR)/Mangel Records (DE) ]
Staying in Germany, we head further east to Leipzig and the second album from Onyon. The attractive and interesting single Schiefe Bahn suggested that good things were coming, and the album, when it arrived, did not disappoint.
Its contents are buoyant and lively, with the female vocals having that retro post-punk feel. It’s hard to pick a favourite song, but if I had to it would be The Demon. Or Secret of the Ooze. Maybe it’s……..
Pale Horses is available direct from the band, Swish Swash Records or Mangel Records.
Cawatana – Beyond The Glory [Senkrecht Records (HUN)]
Beyond The Glory has been out since June, but I only heard it recently thanks to a remixed version of one of its tracks, which is great by the way.
This veteran Hungarian act’s music errs on the minimal wave side of the genre, blending gloomy sounds with early New Order/Factory Records, Synth Britannia and French/Belgian coldwave aka “la vague froide”.
Powered by analog synths, drum machines and vocals fed through a vocoder, the songs here are reworked versions taken from the band’s long career. I am not sure if I want to hear the original versions of these songs because these are so good with the Kraftwerk like In Front Of The Shadow and the EBM tinged Splintered being my highlights.
Buy it from the band or via the label.
Records I Like 