Zombie Zombie

Funk Kraut

Label: Born Bad

Genre: Electro / Electro-Rock

Availability

LP €23.99

Out of Stock

Some record crates deserve a sub-category called ‘’play it again, Sam’’. Casablanca-level comfort tracks that spin on the turntables without a push. Funk Kraut, Zombie Zombie's second LP on Born Bad, is of this kind. This well-proportioned classic is a fine example of the style the trio has been embodying : instrumental music played live, for synths and drums. The album kicks off with ‘No cruise control’, a big bad sedan that effortlessly eats up the distance at 120 BPM. Kraut as can be, with a twist. And as far as funk goes, it's not Bootsy Collins, but there's a whiff. Space is structured by synth patterns, for optimized drumming : forward, straight and fluid, top-notch suspension (Cosmic Neman / Dr Schönberg take care of business on drums). They treat themselves to a diversion via Darmstadt to take some musique concrete on board : mechanical birds chirp, the odd atonal piano here and there. Nerds will appreciate liner notes detailing the equipment used : about twenty synths and they still describe it as minimal.

This was a quick affair, recorded by Laurent Deboisgisson in the studio of Cheveu's singer. A pretty straightforward job, and a far cry from their previous concept album. Let us praise Krikor Kouchian's mix: drums have been resampled with some restraint, and that LinnDrum kick lightens up the overall mix. It marks a notable evolution in the band's sound, and adds some dynamic. The cover, designed by Dddixie, sets the tone with its ‘Motorik Vibes & Stereo Grooves’ sticker. Motorik, absolutely, it's autobahn time for 45mn. And when it comes to stereo grooving, the acoustic image is as wide as the canyons of Mars.

Etienne Jaumet moves cautiously forward, one note at a time, album by album. But with ‘Densité’, we've just passed a polyphonic milestone: outright chords ! Long, suspended pads, pierced only by fat claps. Clapping hands are not far off. The band shows it has mastered concise pop formats. That same vibe can be found in ‘Jungle the Jungle’, paradoxical tune, catchy and moody at once. The break alone deserves to be extended , DJs beware.

You’ll get some brass riffs in ‘Helix’, which takes off on a synth moving from one speaker to another to herald the crash of syncopated drums to come. Zombie Zombie sounds ready to write themes for niche TV series: we'd love to be the kid who skips training to watch heroes righting wrongs once a week on that sound. ‘Aurillac Accident’ documents a haphazard soundcheck which, once in the studio, became a bitter ballad, breaking apart into dubby gravy.

Live, the two drummers face each other, and it's always a treat to witness the very fine intertwining that makes the band's signature sound : rich drums, percussion and West Coast synths stabs. This aspect of their work appear in ‘Snare Attack’ and ‘Double Z’, with its jogging hi-hats and creepy little toy piano motifs. Cardio levels are high on ‘Dodorian’, perfect track for depraved spinning classes, with its moving filter, disco arpeggios and flashes of synthetic brass. ‘Magnavox Odyssey', a nostalgic but bouncy synth lasagna, brings this album to a majestic close, picking up where the band left off: no more singing in latin, back to basics, play it again Sam.