release
p·a·l, being one of the older active ant-zen icons, releases this first full-length cd after "m@rix". the audience has been prepared for the new sound of "release" after appearance of "play @ 2am" and "remote". thus, the dark minimal techno blended with sparse noise elements on this disc were not unexpected.
more of a surprise came the tracks like "leeste, night" with its definite "electro" feel and lack of techno elements that dominate the rest of the cd. "death is a drum machine" is yet another unexpected track that at first scares you away with its twisted dislocated drum'n'bass lacking any melodies, but then turns out to be strangely appealing and interesting.
i can't help but mention the theme of half-a-century old tobacco commercials going through the cd reflected in the samples and the sleeve design.
dark repetitive drones and unchanging pulse go through most of the tracks on cd, hypnotizing and enchanting the listener. these elegant rhythmic textures are the new fascination of p·a·l. corroded noisy drones are merely a background for the strong percussion.
the distortion is subdued and perfectly controlled, never being released on the foreground. among the noisiest tracks on cd is "discoroad" where powerful heavy beats are clashing with swirling chaotic noises and distorted percussion, retaining the constant pulse of the track creating the densest sound on the disc. "bang your box" is another strong track with fast-paced rolling percussion backed by layers of thick repetitive noise - dynamic rhythm'n'noise workout.
the mesmerizing quality of new sound is apparent on "crash the party" - clean and simple percussion-oriented track with unchanging beats and distorted stretched lines going along with the rhythm. pulses, buzzing drilling noises, twisted bass lines combined with monotonous clean percussion bring up comparisons with voltaic or even latest vromb. "welcome to annexia" and "in the now" both are almost atmospheric with dark drones and slow percussion, full of distant noises and samples. "move!" is built on slowly evolving graceful beats with a strange electro edge; wet pulses and building intensity make this track a stylish background dance music that occasionally grabs your attention with unexpected dislocated passage.
the new p·a·l might lose old fans, that will fail to find the experimental sound of early releases, but will undoubtedly gain new followers with its "cleaned-up" minimal techno that still possesses dark noisy edge.