Pouppée Fabrikk – Armén (Album – Alfa Matrix)
Genre/Influences: EBM.
Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.
Background/Info: Pouppée Fabrikk are the Swedish Godfathers of EBM! Set up in 1987 they released noticeable albums and songs until they disappeared from the sonic radar. We all know Henrik Nordvargr Björkk was involved with numerous industrial/ambient projects, but “Armén” is the first new Pouppée Fabrikk album in more than twenty years. Henrik Nordvargr Björkk joined arms again with Leif Holm and Jouni Ollila.
Content: The album takes off with the previously released single title-song “Only Control”. The song feels like a hard punch to your face, which remains the trademark of the Swedish giants. The compositions are pretty simple like good-old electro-punk has to sound; solid and dark bass lines, a heavy, linear tempo and the growls of Henrik on top. The songs are short, but always powerful. This album sounds like the band should have never stopped. It also remains one of the darkest and I even dare to say most tormented sound experiences in EBM. One song was sung in their Mother tongue while other tracks were sung in English. The last song of the album “Kick It” sounds a bit more ‘modern’.
+ + + : Pouppée Fabrikk is back and that’s for sure an event we no longer expected. “Armén” also stands for a stunning return. Time had no weight on Pouppée Fabrikk and the songs are all in the vein of their most successful early albums (cf. “Rage” and “Portent”). Being a bass line freak, this album gives me a true sonic orgasm, but I also enjoy the dark sphere supporting the work. The songs have something menacing. Some aggressive, metallic noises accentuate the cold sound experience. “Only Control” remains a great song, but I also have to mention “Burn Forever”, “I Am Here To Stay” and “Kom Ta Min Smärta”. Last, but not least I also have to say efficient EBM is also about a great sound production and that’s precisely what “Armén” stands for!
– – – : “Blessings” is the only single song, which sounds a little less unaccomplished to me. No reason to complain!
Conclusion: I’m always a bit skeptical and hesitant when legendary bands are striking back after such a long lapse of time, but Pouppée Fabrikk remains true masters of EBM. If this band will go live again, it will be damned crazy!
Best songs: “Burn Forever”, “I Am Here To Stay”, “Only Control”, “Kom Ta Min Smärta”.
Rate: (9).
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