Thilges — La Double Absence
This is their second release for Staubgold label and the band call their music 'Western experimental music meets oriental art music' which is an effective enough description but really under estimates the mix of different cultures and sounds offer in such a rewarding and tight package. Beats and electronics move with ancient and plucked instrumentation, haunting and mystic traditional Persian and Afghan female vocals float and weave in and out, cinematics climes rise into jazzy folds. Unlike a lot of projects that have attempted this type of thing in the past- the Thilges have a real understanding and ability to paint the sounds/ genres they attempt with such great clarity and depth. Been able to mix and match the very different musical discipline and textures seamlessly, the Electronics never override the world elements or vice-versa. It really is a heady, perfectly set album that mangers to mysterious, alien, deeply creative, haunting and beautiful, yet at the sametime never becomes too flamboyant or clever for it own good.
A brilliant combination of ancient, experimental, cutting edge and clever electronics. One of the highlights of this year and a certainly hit with those who enjoyed inventive and challenging mixed genre music, which basically means anyone who reads MM regularly ;-) .