Amsterdam-based new wave/electronic/art punk band, and post-punk electro pioneers, Peel Session favourites, and former Factory Records signees Minny Pops return with their first new studio album ‘Stockholm_1974’in over forty years. The follow-up to 1984’s ‘4th Floor’ release finds Minny Pops maestro Wally van Middendorp musing on his formative years as a student in seventies Sweden with guest players who include Terry Edwards (sax/trumpet), Graham Dowdall (Electronics), Pieter Mulder (Banjo), Zamilska (Electronics), and Dennis Duchart (Electronics / Guitars).
The album opens with `Dad Dog` which has a constant driving drum beat, languid churning reggae riffs, occasional trumpet tinges and a spoken word panegyric about the unconditional love of a man for his dog. A haunting saxophone and bass line lead us into and through `Patty` which again has a spoken word dialogue asking if Patty is awake along with snippets of events from 1974. The track becomes quite hypnotic until the last ninety seconds when it has a more aggressive texture which appears to be an attempt to rouse the subject of the song.
`1234 Satisfy` has a more upbeat industrial vibe and put me in mind of Grace Jones`s version of `Warm Leatherette` but more relaxed. I read after listening to the piece that it’s all about instant gratifications, fulfilling your desires and connecting with your loved ones. There`s a magnetic pulse at the heart and running throughout `Spectrum SQ` along with an electronic drumbeat, some evocative saxophone tones, and joyous banjo chords. Singular random odd words such as exhales, size, doves, scoffs, chuckles, moles, girls, ants are shared as the track evolves along with a variety of inner monologues, wonderfully enthralling and bizarre.
There`s a real sense of anxiety at times throughout `Stay Awake` which veers from discordant guitar riffs to saxophone passages and heavy bass driven extracts. The last seventy-six seconds gains a forceful verbal and pounding cadence in pursuit of consciousness. A tormented sax sound leads us into `Last Train` which has a rhythmic drum beat and arbitrary statements shared as the soundscape evolves and progresses. For me it painted a picture of the dystopian futuristic scenes in Ridley Scott`s movie Bladerunner.
‘Stockholm_1974’ is a pretty compelling listen with tracks that are off kilter and quirky but also fascinating and captivating.
A strange but worthwhile listen.
Rating 8.5/10
