By: Phil Makepeace
Kontakte | facebook | twitter | bandcamp |
Released on September 8, 2014 via Bandcamp
London-based Kontakte have described the vibe of their first two offerings as ‘light’. More accurately, they seemed to be light on ideas. Happily their third outing makes a much better impression.
2011’s We Move Through Negative Spaces felt like the band wanted to have an anthropological discussion with you underneath a big goddamn Explosions in the Sky poster. Hell, even the album cover was of a landscape slightly sullied by human interference. It just didn’t hit you.
The opening track of These Machines appears to promise the same. But then comes the hit. And another one. Suddenly its title, ‘Shut Your Eyes And You’ll Burst Into Flames’, starts to make sense. ‘Fear of Music’ develops the theme, even going a little math rock in doing so. Things may not add up so coherently with ‘Alpha Beta Gamma Delta’ but hey, it’s a terrific little number and who cares if it’s half Orbital and half Boards of Canada.
‘Space Junk’ is the most intriguing inclusion. It feels completely out of place until you realise that it’s massively evocative of the kind of stuff Steven Wilson was creating 25 years ago. Perhaps it just doesn’t make sense in the context of what surrounds it, but if Kontakte are due to recreate Deadwing by 2027 I’m perfectly happy about it.
‘Sci-Fi Rising’ and ‘Immortal Engines’ are the undoubted standout pieces from this assembly. The former bumbles along, perfectly happy in its own skin, until somebody barges into it in the queue for the till at IKEA. Meatballs everywhere. The latter leads you through the woods, cartoon critters waving as you saunter by, carefully unpacks your picnic hamper and then plonks an enormous bottle of tequila in the middle of the quiche. It’s unexpectedly brutal yet thoroughly enjoyable.
Friends are good people. They can, in an instant, put words to what you’ve been thinking about all afternoon. Step forward Nick Cotton, aka Cardiff DJ F-Block, who today published this on his blog:
‘If you look outside the sound you have found yourself in, then you’re opening yourself up to higher and higher levels of inspiration.’
Kontakte have found these higher levels. These Machines deserves to be screamed by the horizon as you crest a hill. And to be carried by the wind to soothe your descent. Take it everywhere with you. Make your life spectacular.
