Am Tierpark – Cherry Blossom (Vinyl 12” – Distortion Productions)

Genre/Influences: Electro-pop.

Background/Info: After the promising debut album “Uncaged” (2015) Danish duo Claus Larsen (Leaether Strip, Klutae, Sequential Access) and John Mirland (Mirland, Holm/Mirland) strike back with this 12” vinyl with 4 new songs. The work of Am Tierpark is clearly inspired by good-old electro-pop music.

Content: Next to a solid electro-pop basis the work of Am Tierpark sounds a bit minimal-like. It’s not the usual synth-pop music although it’s inspired by vintage sounds. Carried by dark and solid bass lines and somewhat evasive atmospheres you’ll also notice cool sound treatments, which sometimes vaguely remind me of Kraftwerk.

The title song and “I Can’t Stop” both reveal great choruses, which you’ll easily keep in mind. The title song is for sure a great piece of music and definitely the best Am Tierpark so far.

+ + + : I already mentioned “Cherry Blossom”, which has this little touch of magic transforming a song into a hit. This song also reveals the essence of the Am Tierpark sound, which is rather simple, but composed with great sound sculptures and the charismatic vocals of Claus Larsen. “I Can’t Stop” is a bit comparable in sound formula, but sounds ‘happier’. I here especially like the little space bleeps.

– – – : There’s just one single piece that can’t convince me on this 12”. “The Hunt” is what I would call the only B-side song of the EP. It’s not that bad, but this song is missing a climax.

Conclusion: There definitely is chemistry between Claus Larsen and John Mirland. They both are passionate musicians inspired by the 80s electro-pop, which they’ve adapted into thier very own and minimal contemporary and refreshing style.

Best songs: “Cherry Blossom”, “I Can’t Stop”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www .facebook .com /amtierparkofficial

Label: www .distortionprod .com / www .facebook .com /distortionproductions

Since you’re here …

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading Side-Line Magazine than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. And unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can. So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

Side-Line’s independent journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we want to push the artists we like and who are equally fighting to survive.

If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as 5 US$, you can support Side-Line Magazine – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The donations are safely powered by Paypal.