Agent Side Grinder – Irish Recording Tape + The Transatlantic Tape Project (2 x CD Enfant Terrible)

Agent Side Grinder is a Swedish band we discovered last year by their debut LP. After some moves in the line up the band strikes back with not one, but two album entitled “Irish Recording Tape” and “The Transatlantic Tape Project”. It all sounds as if there’s a serious difference in style and influences between both releases. “Irish Recording Tape” comes closer to the debut release, mainly focused on new-wave music with some electro-punk influences on top. The song “Die To Live” is for sure what I’ve heard as the best from this band so far. The minimal electro-wave style reminds me of Suicide. It’s a pity all the songs aren’t in a similar vein as it would for sure opens interesting perspectives for the band. It doesn’t take away that a few more songs like “Telefunk” and “Black Vein” are quite honest pieces as well. Raw sounds were mixed with down tempo rhythms. “Black Vein” is one of the most danceable cuts from the album! In a different and more moody style we get songs like “The Screams” and “Blue Streaks”. “The Transatlantic Tape Project” sounds totally different and that might be because of the way of working. One of the members of the band had moved to the USA so the songs were composed by ‘post’, partly in Sweden and partly in the USA. The result comes closer to a kind of soundtrack experiment than to the new-wave inspired songs from their previous work. We here get another side of the band, which I have to say is not my favorite one. I don’t have anything against soundtrack-like compositions, but none of the songs really appeal for more. It all sounds flat and less exciting! No climax here, but I can imagine it was a new experience for the band. To conclude I would say forget the 2nd album and enjoy the 1st one!
(ED:6/7 & 4)ED.
Band: www.myspace.com/agentsidegrinder
Label: www.enfant-terrible.nl

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