Onsturicheit – Splinter (CD Album – Wool-E Discs)

Genre/Influences: Experimental, krautrock, ambient.
Background/Info: The creativity of Onsturicheit has no limits. This is album number three for Peter Moorkens and already a new chapter in the “Belgian NeuMusik”-series.
Content: “Splinter” (in English ‘splinter’ or ‘sliver’) sounds in line with its predecessor “Angstzweet”. There’s a same passion for modular sound treatments, which in a way is part of the artist’s project, but it’s also about the global space-like atmosphere hanging over the songs and krautrock elements appearing at the surface now and then. The few sampled vocals also are now quite characteristic elements for the work of Onsturicheit. Some parts are again driven by slow rhythms.
+ + + : Modular synths have something unique in sound and that’s what makes this album –and the project, fascinating. Even if there’s a déjà-vu effect that might appear, it however remains a creative process, which has a greater impact than all these ambient bands simply repeating themselves. But a modular synth is not enough; you also need the creativity of the artist and here again I can confirm Peter Moorkens perfectly knows how to use his equipment, creating an elaborate and arty-crafted music. I also have to say a word about the artwork of the cover revealing cool retro-like pictures from a street view with vintage cars from the seventies.
– – – : If you take the best parts of “Angstzweet” and “Splinter” you for sure will get a brilliant opus, but the fans of this type of music will be pleased getting two albums!
Conclusion: My conclusion is nearly the same as the one for “Angstzweet”, but “Splinter” is even better! Great ambient work composed with retro instruments from this Belgian artist.
Best songs: “Verbrande Dode Bomen”, “Stapvoets Afdalende”, “Gespleten Hoef”.
Rate: (8).
Artist: www.facebook.com/Onsturicheit-2000817190200670
Label: www.wool–e–discs.be / www.facebook.com/woolediscs Read the news on ‘Splinter’.
About Onsturicheit
Onsturicheit is the solo project of Belgian musician Peter Moorkens, born in 1965, who moved from Antwerp to Ghent and played in earlier outfits including Smeurebreud, The Moonfolks and the cassette-based Electric Loopstation before going solo with a live modular-synthesizer set. The project’s Dutch name means something untamable. In 2019, Wool-E Discs head Dimitri released five Onsturicheit albums in quick succession as part of the label’s “Belgian NeuMusik” series, later gathered in the box set “Wanneer De Herder Doolt, Zo Dolen De Schapen” (“When The Shepherd Wanders, So The Sheep Will Wander”). “Splinter” followed “Angstzweet” as the third album in the series, recorded as a rehearsal for a live set at Villa Bota in Bruges. Onsturicheit went on to release “Impressies” and “In De Nevelen” later the same year.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

