Free Time is the first full-length release by Berlin’s ultra-cool
lo-fi fiends Pinkunoizu. This vibrant debut, released on Full Time Hobby
in March, follows on from the group’s November EP Peep, with plenty of
intelligent, harmonious math-pop featuring a subtle edge.
Lead track Time is Like a Melody kicks off this varied album
with sweeping soundscapes, plenty of reverb, and haunting, saturated
vocals. There are clear elements of Arcade Fire’s sound throughout this
track (and indeed sporadically throughout the album as a whole), which
is evocative and beautiful. The album is not focused on such calm sonic
events however; the second track on Free Time - Myriad Pyramid
immediately changes the music’s direction. Still present are the
saturated samples and vague, distorted vocals, but these are placed
within disjointed, syncopated rhythms and a curious flattened key
signature. The track is very evocative of Middle-Eastern music styles,
but also mirrors very cleverly the strange, exotic place pyramids and
Egypt in general hold in Western culture.
Tracks vary further throughout Free Time, and each musical escapade
is equally successful, original and interesting. One reason for such
diversity throughout this debut is the huge selection of influences
present. One minute the listener is subject to surf and country style
guitars a la Cyborb Manifesto, the next, oppressive, futuristic
synth timbres reverberate around the ears. The album is not a mess
however. Yes, there are a huge amount of very different musical
influences present, including Bjork, The Beatles, Matmos, The
Avalanches, The Drums, Stereolab and The Grateful Dead, who are all
audible at various points. There are also examples of other musical
culture present, from folk bazoukis to Indonesian Gamelan, African tuned
percussion and aboriginal music. Tracks are very varied, but each is
under-pinned by subtle stylistic elements, such as the lo-fi production,
the reverb-saturated vocals, and the harmonious interplay between the
live recordings, the synth parts and the samples. The album is well
produced throughout, without over usage of panning techniques, which can
become disorientating when there is so much sound to listen to.
Free Time is a very good example of the new direction alt-indie music
is heading the early part of this new decade. Tracks are complex,
varied, with innumerate influences, instruments and techniques. This is
everything at once, information age, highly post-modern music, and
Pinkunoizu produce it very well. Every sound is well co-ordinated to
create experimental music that is great fun to listen to.
See this at MTTM at: http://www.morethanthemusic.co.uk/reviews/album-reviews/pinkunoizu-free-time/
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