Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

NOR_POL - Constructions [Zoharum - 2020]

Constructions sits somewhere between improv, sparse industrial/ electro texturing, and gloomy mood music- blending both electronics & electro captured organic instrumentation. The release presents its self as eight-track/ forty two minute CD that’s released by respected Polish experimental label Zoharum.

The CD comes presented in brown/grey six-panel gatefold, that on its outside features artwork that is some form of a close-up or modified picture of dense moorland. Apparently, NOR_POL that came about  as a natural effect of long term collaboration between Jorgen Knudesen and £ukasz Sza³ankiewicz aka electro-industrial project Zenial. And Constructions is the projects debut release.

Things start off in a surprising fairly formal & smooth manner with “Durational(Jazz Version)”- which is best described as nearing five minutes of set & pedestrian jazz drumming with a twinkling ethno-ambient backdrop. The tracks pleasant enough but lacks interesting or building detail, and it sonically stands apart from the albums other seven tracks in both its sonic style/ feel.

The rest of the album is way, way more lose & abstract- with the tracks more often than not having a decidedly jam feel. Over the albums length they move from brining together creaking & scuttling electro percussive tones with warbling ‘n’ wondering piano tones. Moving onto modified bell-like drone and choppy electro texturing. Through to denser & noise electro scaping, and slamming/ jarring experimental electronica. The problem is that more often than not the tracks feel half-formed & underdeveloped- sure I can understand the pair are trying to create a loose improv feel, but sadly neither really have the chops to carry off appealing & interesting improvising, instead it just often feels like their just playing around with the set-ups, and worse of all at points it very much feels like ‘what does this do’ type button pressing is going on.

I’m not really sure who Constructions is meant to be appealing to really- as it’s too lose/ abstract for those who enjoy more experimental electronica, and there is not enough skill or rewarding control here to appeal to improv fans.

Rating: 2 out of 5Rating: 2 out of 5Rating: 2 out of 5Rating: 2 out of 5Rating: 2 out of 5

Roger Batty
Latest Reviews

NOR_POL - Constructions
Constructions sits somewhere between improv, sparse industrial/ electro texturing, and gloomy mood music- blending both electronics & electro captured or...
211125   Priest - Priest( Blu Ray)
201125   Jürg Frey/Reinier van Houdt ...
201125   Magnus Granberg - The Willow...
201125   Signals: A Space Adventure & ...
201125   Peter Knight - For a Moment t...
201125   Ed Kemper - Ed Kemper( Blu Ray)
191125   Absolution - Absolution( Blu ...
191125   The Naughty List of Mr Scroog...
191125   Atomic Rooster - Circle The ...
181125   The Residents - Leftovers 197...
Latest Articles

Michael Hurst Interview - Unbalan...
One of the more creative & original horror films I’ve seen/ reviewed recently is Transmission, a 2023 film which, a few months ago, received a DVD ...
281025   Michael Hurst Interview - Unb...
071025   Xiphos - The Rise And Fall Of...
030925   Third Window Films - A Label ...
130825   HNW fest- Barcelona- 12th Apr...
250725   Raté interview - Walled-in F...
180625   Matthew Holmes - Of razor-sha...
280525   The Residents - Visits From T...
090525   Ennaytch - Of walls, abused ...
150425   Dead, Dead Swans interview - ...
110325   Sebastian Tomb - Walls of unb...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2025. Twenty four years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom