Twists (A Visitor Arrives)

Album review

Since signing with Bureau B near the beginning of the 2010s, Düsseldorf's Kreidler have gradually incorporated more dub, funk, and Fourth World-style global fusion elements into their Krautrock-esque sound. Twists (A Visitor Arrives) continues in this vein, while also coming closer to '80s art-rock, sometimes nearly resembling sophisti-pop without the pop. Opener "Polaris" crawls forward with a distinctive scrape augmenting its rhythm, as well as horns that seem to signal the break of dawn, and ghostly murmurs echoing in the distance. "Tanger Telex" is much more suspenseful, with Timuçin Dündar's saxophone creeping up alongside the slow, sensual rhythm. Two songs mark rare occurrences of vocals on a Kreidler record. On "Loisaida Sisters," Khan of Finland laments feeling lost during an endless pursuit of sex in the city. "Hands" features some restless synth buzzing, but is otherwise serene, with Natalie Beridze gently reciting poetic verse about the title subject. "Arithmétique" begins with some startling feedback, but it quickly livens up with bubbling synths and crackling drum breaks. "Hopscotch" has the album's heaviest avant-funk rhythm, balanced by comparatively breezy synths. The panning vibrations of "Mount Mason" come alive when heard on a good stereo system, and elevate the track's pensive mood. The dramatic finale, "Kandili," starts out as a hazy dub groove, with sparkling arpeggios signaling something ominous in the distance, then takes off with a mid-paced percussive gallop amidst synthetic rainfall.

© Paul Simpson /TiVo