(08.24.08) Following the re-issue of Störung’s This is Future, Clogsontronic are back with their mission to relive and revive the new wave sound of the 1980s. This time the recently resuscitated record label are re-releasing their 1983 second outing: Ensemble Pittoresque’s For This Is Past. So how does this CD/LP, with its clear title reference to This is Future, fair out?
The album’s opening two tracks are vintage new wave, dissociated lyrics ebb on unsettling guitar and synthesizer compositions. It is with track three, “Autatorium,” that the LP spins away from the classic new wave sound of the early 80s. Arches of reverberated electronic sound introduce the piece before haunting choir vocals slide in. The track has a power and modern aspect that comes as a complete surprise. Beats enter to bring another energy to the piece, as do electric guitar pulses. “Artificials” continues down this inspirational line, a wonderfully plinky plonky synthesizer work with uplifting fast-spoken vocals. The A-Side finishes up with the sombre slowed sound of “O.B.W.T.,” a blend of spacey synthesizers and atmospheric guitars.
“Maitre Satori” starts off the B-Side. The track has a fantastically progressive sound of clever synthesizer composition and crisp drum machine snares. Vocoders give the lyrics a reflective tone whilst guitars produce another aspect in this multi-layered work. “Building Brains” moves onto completely different ground. Synthesizers are at the heart of the track, with samples giving it a definite modern slant. “Lovesong” turns back to classic new wave ground, whilst having a quirky strange edge. Ensemble Pittoresque turn things upside down once again with “Ash Grey As Sunday” which has a melancholic mid 90s indie sound, almost Nick Cave in style. “Reichdorf Room 6” ends the record. The track is a mesh of ambient electronics and harsh industrial back sounds, a wonderfully heartfelt composition to end the album on.
On first putting For This Is Past onto a turntable the listener expects to be in for a carbon copy of This is Future, this is far from the case. Ensemble Pittoresque, some twenty five years ago in The Netherlands, created an LP that is as varied in styles as it is inspiring. Ensemble Pittoresque were years before their time, producing electronic tracks that sound as fresh today as they sounded groundbreaking a quarter of a century ago.
For This Is Past is out now on Clogsontronics.
