Bohren & Der Club of Gore — Dolores

After the striped down, sluggish and crawling doomed jazz tones of Bohren & Der Club of Gore last album Geisterfaust, their new album Dolores see’s them going to the other end of spectrum with some of their most tuneful, short ‘n’ sharp and even brightest sounding tracks of their Career.

The great cover really illustrates the albums vibe perfectly with butterflies or moths escaping from a cut silhouetted neck of a body; Dolores is all about broken darkness and moving into the sunlight- but it’s an autumnal sunlight still ebbed with melancholy grace. The tracks still often stumble and slowly walk along with that distinct Bohren bass tone pop-up often and the very distinct slow jazz air that Bohern have perfected.  But  most of the tracks here are high with a melodic air that for the most part is rather hopeful and upbeat with each track not stretching much past the five minute mark. There’s also a return to using a bit more instrumentally colour after the rather barren Rhodes Piano, bass and drums set-up of most of Geisterfaust, with also the sax making a welcome and wonderfull return on track four onwards. There are also moments of more straight ambience weaved in and out here too with synth and organ drifts left to wonder sometimes in a drumless state.

Another superb chapter in Bohren & Der Club of Gore distintive sound taking it to brighter and more melodic shores, yet never losing their key sound and identity. This most definitely will bringing new people to  there one-off and wonderful sound- but it will also appeal to long term converts too. I’m in no doubt this be very near the top of my end of year list.