We Will Fail - Verstörung [Monotype Records - 2014]Monotype Records presents Verstörung, the debut full-length by We Will Fail. We Will Fail is the project of Aleksandra Grünholz, based out of Warsaw, Poland. A graphic designer and visual artist, Grünholz created We Will Fail as a further extension of her artistics proclivities. According to Grünholz, Verstörung is the result of many years of collecting sounds (field recordings, samples from old audio tapes, those created with audio equipment, etc.) and wanting to finally collect them into a cohesive album. Verstörung features 14 tracks of drum machine beats, trance-inducing synthscapes, and manipulated field recordings. The end result is music that is beat-centric, sparse techno excursions with some noise flourishes thrown in for good measure. It’s not full on rave by any means, but more like noirish electronic music to transfix to in a dark, smokey club. Virtually every 4-5 minute piece begins with a beat (of varying tempos and density) as it’s foundation with synth tones and pulses that creep in and out. Sometimes these pieces manifest as haunting, cinematic soundscapes, and other times minimalist dance tracks. Some minimal use of static, electronic chirps, and glitchy bits further flesh out each piece.
Grünholz set out to to produce a cohesive album and that it is. However, that cohesiveness also makes for a very homogenous album at times. Many of the tracks feel a bit too familiar. Truth be told, the track I enjoyed most is the final piece “v.14” which enfolds as a dreamy, ethereal synthscape, which didn’t rely on beats as it’s foundation.
In conclusion, Verstörung left me feeling a bit indifferent, which is exact opposite effect this artist was hoping for. I’ll be the first to admit that this isn’t the kind of thing I usually listen to. That said, there are many good morsels to be found throughout this work.
   Hal Harmon
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