LOSSES – Reality Breakdown (NO TREND Cover)
I’m not certain how well the minimalist electronic sound of the 1980s has aged. The one thing that I do know is that the commonly held belief that those kinds of tones were harmless and best accompanied by a disco soundtrack is an utter lie.
In the hands of malevolent forces like LOSSES, it makes for a terrifying noise. The original version of Reality Breakdown, written by the punk band No Trend, was a desperate misanthropic anthem that featured the kind of vocals that get cats to stay far away from your home.
The messy power-chord guitars are replaced on the Losses’ version. Instead, they restore it with minimalist electro flourishes and precise, reverb-drenched vocals. Together with the subject of the lyrics, it feels like the kind of music made by people whose shopping list includes a bizarre amount of chloroform and adhesive tape.
Matan Arkin – Twin Shadow
Matan Arkin is a producer with a love for retro stylings, philosophy and experimental sounds. Twin Shadow is a hello off a tune, not just a mess of garbled noises and this should be stated straight out of the gate.
It is an eccentric song though, one that a band’s most pioneering band member might work out on his own, using the group’s studio time, while the others are busy drinking or chasing girls.
Musically, it is built around a great drum loop, simple piano lines and a menacing, trembling guitar sound. The vocals flutter just as intensely. Also, interestingly, given the artists dual role as a musician and producer, the singing is quite distinct. It sounds as if it was recorded in an abandoned shed. You can almost hear the dust rising and settling—an interesting track from a daring artist.
