Blueblunt — Lutebulb

Lutebulb is the fifth album from this Vienna-based trio who create an often jaunting carnival bound blend of jazz and avant-rock.  It’s a six-track affair, which is clearly trying to be quirky/ oddly edged- though sadly it comes off as somewhat flat/ dull- due to its largely bland guitar-focused sound, unispired/ bad songscraft, and decidedly undynamic recording.

Blueblut was formed in 2014- with their first album being the self-released Hurts So Gut from the same year. They went on to release But But in 2016, Andenborstengürteltier in 2020, and Garden Of Robotic Unkraut in 2022. The band present line-up is  Chris Janke- guitar, loops, and samples. Pamelia Stickney- theremin, vocals. And Mark Hotlub- drums, vocals and percussion

We kick off with “Cocktail” which sounds like a rather loose/ ham-fisted instrumental take on something that might have appeared on Mr Bungle’s debut album. It’s unfed by crowd noise/ knocking cutlery sound, naff percussive detail, with a focus on rather bland/slapdash guitar work.  By track three we landed on the nearing seven & a half minutes of  “Aumba” which really feels its length & some. It consists of rather lacklustre guitar strum-to-strut, wavering/ shapeless wordless female vocals, and messy percussion building, and a  truly arful  sing-along send out. I’m guessing it’s meant to sound moodily building/ playful, but instead it's just shambolic/ downright trying.

The album plays out with just over four minutes of “Kaktusgetrank” which drifts from rather bland Latin rock/post-punk fusion with wailing messy vocals. Onto badly played & waywardly whistling theremin with wondering/ uninspired guitar soloing.

Now I don’t say this very often but Lutebulb  truly was a real trial to get through- it’s all so sloppy composed, haphazardly played, and badly mixed. Simply put avoid!