Simon12345 & The Lazer Twins :: Cheveux propres, cheveux gras (Holger)

Disjointed, neither rooted solidly in one idea nor fitting firmly into a particular genre. This isn’t necessarily bad as it can often be the chance for music to be heard in a way it might not normally.

Simon 12345 & The Lazer Twins EP Cheveux propres, cheveux gras is an odd affair. While it sounds nice it comes off as disjointed, neither rooted solidly in one idea nor fitting firmly into a particular genre. This isn’t necessarily bad as it can often be the chance for music to be heard in a way it might not normally. Yet here the disparate elements fail to cohere into a solid piece or concept, ultimately leaving the listener wondering if it was a single artist or group they were listening to or an extremely experimental combination.

“Root” opens detuned bass, cool and moody that morphs into a warping string track. The effects are a little heavy handed then again without them the track is a bit like funeral home music. “△(Alpha)” has bombastic drums with more cowbell than one could ever ask for that settles into a stiff soca beat under a bass drone and synth blasts. “Sp(2n,R)” is a dark piece with sparse synth textures and an almost acidy vibe in the arpeggiated bass; the drums come in as steady four on the floor-bangers with minimal fills. It’s a toe-tapper for sure and a good solid beat-box workout. “Flöte in n-dur” sounds a bit like a Tortoise out-take or even a tune up and seems out of place in the synth and drum machine heavy tracks around it. “Norborn Sjinjowkriaw”’s distorted drums give way to another Afro-Caribbean flavored drum beat before a distorted synth bass like the Night Rider theme kicks in under warped synths and an oddly jubilant arpeggiated synth lead. “Atomic Bomb Dome” ends the album with wind chimes and ambient outdoor noise as if it’s recorded somewhere outside. The chimes fit nicely with the synths that fade in slowly but the track is over and done with before developing.

Cheveux propres, cheveux gras is available on Holger.