Familiar

Album review

Familiar is the second release culled from recording sessions between Cluster co-founder Dieter Moebius, new age composer/pianist Tim Story, and sound manipulator Jon Leidecker (best known for his plunderphonic glitch work as Wobbly and as a member of legendary culture jammers Negativland). Moebius seems to fit directly in the middle between Story's serene, calming reflections and Leidecker's playful chaos, and the collaboration ends up going down remarkably smoothly, with none of the artists sounding out of place. Opener "Wrong" is extremely busy, with squirming, alien-like noises buzzing around a clattering Middle Eastern drum sample, sounding like Muslimgauze with a very childish spirit. "Zucken" is blippy glitch-techno on par with anything Force Inc. or Perlon were putting out during the early 2000s, but with an additional spike of adrenaline. While "We Need You in Our Soups" is a bit of a meditative breather (despite its odd title), "Block Blow" is a burst of glitchy fun, with laser blasts rocketing around a tight motorik beat and cyclical pianos. The album ends with "Vexed," a 15-minute trek through ghostly voices, bubble pops, and twisted melodies, all set to a slow, steady pulse. Moebius passed away after the sessions were recorded, making this one of several posthumous releases for the late Krautrock pioneer, but this is among his most spirited work, and demonstrates that his fearless sense of innovation remained with him for his entire life.

© Paul Simpson /TiVo