Trackologists – No Surrender, No Retreat (CD Album – Hands)
Genre/Influences: IDM, industrial.
Background/Info: Trackologists is a brand-new sound project consisting of Mike Erkau (the_empath) and André Matthes plus Thomas Niedballa (both involved in Heimstatt Yipotash). The band name sounds like it was inspired by the last album of the_empath (cf. “Trackologie”).
Content: “No Surrender, No Retreat” sounds like a determinant title symbolizing a great sound production. The influences are clearly into IDM while there also is an impressive arsenal of industrial sounds that has been used. It injects a hard and unpolished touch to the work. But it also creates a modern IDM interpretation, which is carried by low, broken rhythms. Some passages are even into a surprising sensual format, which is accentuated by intriguing Eastern-like sounds (cf. “Bayt Al-Hikma”).
Another and essential surprising element is the vocals running through this album. You don’t really expect vocals when listening to UIDM and/or industrial, but Trackologists incorporated meaningful vocal parts to the composition. Most of the vocals have been produced like a sampling effect, which totally fits with the modernism of the sound. The lyrics reveal a rather abstract content, which seems like a self-reflection and a critical view upon society and life generally speaking.
The last two tracks reveal remixes by the_empath first and then by Heimstatt Yipotash.
+ + + : Trackologists is much more than simply a project between two bands. This work reveals an impressive sound creation and a sophisticated IDM exposure characterized by raw sound treatments and intelligent industrial sound elements. This is a brilliant electronic composition revealing multiple exceptional songs.
– – – : I don’t see real minus points although the remixes of both bands don’t really add a bonus and are the less convincing cuts.
Conclusion: Trackologists is a successful fusion between two established and recognized names from the German industrial scene. This work is an intelligent exposure of their creative brains.
Best songs: Boötes Vid”, “Suicide With Plastic Gun”, “Modified Newtonian Dynamics”, “No Surrender, No Retreat”, Bayt Al-Hikma”.
Rate: (8½).
Band: www.trackologists.de / www.facebook.com/trackologists
Label: www.handsproductions.com / www.facebook.com/hands.official
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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.
