Monotract – xprmntl lvrs – CD (promo-copy)

I got this promo-copy of Montracts’ upcoming release on Ecstatic Peace from Pit (Tuto Fuzzi) who reckoned that I’d be interested in reviewing it in my blog. There are 7 tracks on this record, that can rightfully be labeled as “songs” – That’s worth mentioning cause I hardly ever get the chance to use the word “song” in my reviews. Monotract were supposed to play in De Living on the 10th of july, but had to cancel their tour – Oli was quite positive on the material they sent him, but frankly this release didn’t really impress me at first hearing. There’s a good deal of complex electronics in it, but overall the first impression that it made on me was that of a rockband trying to make an experimental record by fusing guitar and drums with electronica, but that are – quite frankly – overdoing things a bit. This impression remained at the second hearing as far as the first half of the record is concerned, from the second half of the fourth track things start to get better, more impro, more live-feeling, less rock. Track 5 (“Halloweeny”) is an excellent piece of electronic mayhem, track 6 reminds me in some way or another of an even sloppier version of Tania Kiefer’s electro-toypop (for the people that might not grasp it: this is my way of saying that I like this track). Also in this track the lousy distortion on the vocals that dominate the first 3 tracks is -finally- replaced by a less tongue in cheek effect. For a moment it seems that track 7 is going to close the record the way it started of, but then takes a sudden turn of 180°. So overall: a bit of a mixed bag, not for harsh-heads, and probably a bit too light for hardline experimentalists too – Mind you: there are some good elements in this CD, and I’m sure looking forward for more Monotract material in the lines of track 5. Can’t say anything on the artwork cause this promo-copy came without sleeve.