Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Free and legal MP3 from Lali Puna (lustrous electro-pop from veteran German band)

"Remember" - Lali Puna
     Lustrous electro-pop from the veteran German quartet Lali Puna, but the first new song heard from them since 2004. Centered on a recurring sound that has the aspect of a wordless question, the introductory beat is oddly poignant-sounding, and nicely launches this smartly orchestrated mix of rubbery aluminum synth lines and understated percussion. Everything's electronic but not too blippy or scratchy; there's instead something palpably formed about the sound, something that gives this the feel of musicians actually playing instruments rather than twiddling knobs. There are even sounds mixed in--am I making this up? I don't think so--that resemble the sound of fingers changing chords on guitar strings.
     Meanwhile, Valerie Trebeljahr's wistful vocals find their whispery place in the hypnotic mix, neither too forward nor too restrained; and listen too to the shadow of male harmony accompaniment all the way through, most clearly heard on the recurrent refrain, "Will you remember me?" Oh and don't miss what happens at 1:29 when for seven seconds or so the smooth electro stylings are stripped away and we're left with a most idiosyncratic aural skeleton, as if beneath the limpid facade is a deviant alien core.
     "Remember" will be found on Our Inventions, Lali Puna's fourth album, scheduled for an April release on Berlin-based Morr Music. MP3 via Morr Music.

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