Parajekt — Espérance II

Prarajekt are an intriguing duo based in Vienna, who take up the city’s lineage of creepy, dark, minimalist electronic experimentalism first promoted on Mego and later exemplified by the likes of Christian Fennesz, Radian, and others. While Parajekt share the almost surgical approach to microtexture and sound design of these predecessors, their voice is very much their own. Espérance II is a four-track EP that seems to have emerged organically from the material presented on their debut album, which appeared at the beginning of the year.

The EP’s opening cut, “Razum”, is almost academic in the way it introduces the specific language to follow. An electronic kick pounds, succeeded by snare hits, and finally high-pitched wrangling as if from a distant radio transmission. Said differently, three distinct registers of the frequency spectrum, each autonomous and yet reluctantly collaborative. The elements of this formula diverge only occasionally in subsequent compositions, whose difference is marked mostly by an increasing complexity of the given arrangement. The almost scientific rigour of maintaining the integrity of each frequency field is maintained throughout. The percussive holds sway; melody is a messy business.

Fans of early (or late) Mego acts will rejoice at the dark, Viennese erudition paraded here. Highly recommended!