Plants Army Revolver – Yguana (Vinyl 12” – Avian)
Genre/Influences: Minimal-electro, experimental, tribal, ambient.
Background/Info: Italian duo Marco Ragni – Birgan Valentin has already been active for a few years now, but this year they struck back joining hands with Avian for this 12” featuring five tracks.
Content: It’s not an easy job defining the sound of this project, but there clearly is a crossover between different influences. It has something ambient-like creating an abyssal effect. Plants Army Revolver next explores minimal electronics while injecting approximate tribal elements to the work. But they also remain driven by techno influences, their ‘heaviest’ cut (cf. “Borneo Memories”) being more technoid.
+ + + : “Yguana” has something original and refreshing for mixing different styles together. The minimal approach appears to be the cohesive element between the songs. I have a preference for the techno driven “Borneo Memories” while the more minimal-like “Annapurna Ritual” is also worthy of examination.
– – – : The songs are easy listening-like, but missing a climax.
Conclusion: I see this project as an interesting ‘techno-variant’; holding on techno ingredients, but still walking on other sonic paths.
Best songs: “Borneo Memories”, “Annapurna Ritual”.
Rate: (6½).
Artist: www.facebook.com/PlantsArmyRevolver
Label: www.a–v–n.com / www.facebook.com/AvianUK
About Plants Army Revolver
Plants Army Revolver is the duo of Italian producers Marco Ragni and Birgan Valentin. The project released the EPs “Diaspora” (2014) and “Cibele” (2015) before returning in 2019 with the “Nyambi” EP and “Yguana”, a five-track 12” for the UK label Avian.
Plants Army Revolver continued with the “Introspettiva” EP in 2020 and went on to contribute remix work to other electronic releases, including a 2024 remix featured on the compilation “The Merge”.
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