AGENT SIDE GRINDER - Hardware

Kategorie: CD-Reviews | Genre: Electronic, Artpop/Pop | Heft: Jahrgang 2012, eclipsed Nr. 139 / 4-2012 | VÖ-Jahr: 2012 | Wertung: 8/10 | Label: Headstomp | Autor: CA


The cover brings back memories of Kraftwerk's "Computerwelt", which is certainly wanted. Based almost exclusively on analog equipment, "Hardware" is an electronic album of the old school. Agent Side Grinder juggling with New Wave, EBM and Kraftwerk. Here the late seventies and early eighties come to life again as acts like Depeche Mode, Suicide and Front 242 successfully delivered the soundtrack for an era. Agent Side Grinder is one of the Swedish answers to this music chapter. Singer Kristoffer Grip comes in Andrew Eldritch style with a deep dark voice. The black outfit of the musicians also fulfils various clichés. Nevertheless, "hardware" is by no means gothie music, although apocalyptic enough to dim everything around you down properly. The rhythms pulsate softly but demandingly, the synths shimmer and the retro look fits like a fist to the eye. In tunes like "Rip Me" and especially "Mag 7" the "Trans Europa Express" glides majestically through the scene and "mannequins" dance in ecstasy. Everything always remains casual and cool.

Top track: Mag 7

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