Blind Delon – Discipline (CD Album – Unknown Pleasures Records)
Genre/Influences: Minimal-electro, experimental, cinematic-EBM.
Background/Info: Blind Delon is a French solo-project set up and driven by Mathis Kolkoz. After having released multiple EP’s Blind Delon joined hands together with Unknown Pleasures Records to unleash the project’s debut full length album. Notice by the way the band becomes a trio when going on stage.
Content: I never heard of Blind Delon before and discovered an electro-minimal project devoted to vintage electro sounds. The songs progressively and meticulously built up. That’s precisely the structure from the opening song “Rule I”, which after about 7 minutes suddenly explodes into a harder cut. This way of working comes back on a few other cuts as well. The vocals are more used as an extra effect instead of classic vocals. Notice by the way Blind Delon invited a few guest singers. The work is not only minimal, it also reveals EBM elements while the result has something cinematic as well.
+ + + : The least I can say is that this work has something original. The sound appears to be the result of a fusion between different genres and influences. But the main strength is for sure the originality of the sound treatments, which is created by the magic of analogue sound treatments. The way the opening song has been built up, taking me by surprise with a sudden sonic eruption is absolutely great!
– – – : The work features 6 cuts and only the fifth one (cf. “Rule V” couldn’t convince me.
Conclusion: Despite of the great electronic treatments and minimalism, Blind Delon is not exactly the most accessible project although an original one!
Best songs: “Rule 1”, “Rule 6”, “Rule 2”.
Rate: (7½).
Artist: www.facebook.com/blinddelon
Label: www.unknown–pleasures–records.com / www.facebook.com/Unknown–Pleasures–Records-566180440115465
About Blind Delon
Blind Delon is a synth-punk and post-wave project from Toulouse, France, founded in 2016 by Mathis Kolkoz. “Discipline” is the project’s debut full-length, following several earlier EPs, with Blind Delon expanding into a trio for live shows. Kolkoz later provided guest vocals on Chris Shape’s 2021 album “Shaped To Deform,” also released on Unknown Pleasures Records before the label closed after seven years in 2020.
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