New Wave and Synth Pop are immediate influences, but there’s a cold Electro seam running through the 12”.
Leipzig’s Lunatic opened its vinyl doors last year with Uncanny Valley’s Cvbox. The German imprint, born from the club night of the same name, is extending its reach with a new EP and artist. Jennifer Touch, aka Jennifer Ulrike Ochlich, is not a well known name. She has featured on a couple of records here and there but is debuting a self titled EP.
The style of this EP is very hard to pin down. New Wave and Synth Pop are immediate influences, but there’s a cold Electro seam running through the 12”. “You” is distant, bars and percussion coming from an isolated and mechanical place with vocals echoing into recesses. When melodies are unveiled they are stark yet honeyed, but soon subsumed by bass and heartache. “Astra” opens the flip. A heady, swirling piece of fractured Synth Pop is on offer. Chords swim, claps crashing against breathy vocals. The closer is the most emotional of the trio on offer. “Boom” crosses deep notes with staggered keys, lyrics weaving their way between crisp snares.
I’m not all too sure how to summarize Jennifer Touch’s first foray onto vinyl. The EP doesn’t come from the wings of contemporary Synth Wave, nor is it coming from the traditions of the dancefloor. The bitter sweet compositions will undoubtedly be appreciated by a wide audience, but they might also lead to some brow furrowing amongst the local crate diggers.
Jennifer Touch EP is available on Lunatic.
