For a time, it felt like you couldn’t move around the city without this trashy goth trio appearing on stage somewhere, an exhausting schedule that seemingly drained their creative energy.
It wasn’t until they discovered the Roland TB-303 synthesiser, omnipresent throughout the new record, that the band found their spark again, leading them to a sound reminiscent of Berlin’s turn-of-the-century minimalist electronic bands with drum machines and guitars. (Unsurprising, given that frontman Patrick Wagner is the founder of the noughties indie label Kitty Yo, which championed this very music at the height of its popularity.)
Named after George Orwell’s concept of ‘doublethink’, this electro noise-rock record is nostalgic and somewhat outdated. It feels like it would have done well 20 years ago and out of place in today’s scene. Maybe that’s its charm, though, encouraging us to doppeldenk nostalgia and give this album another try. ★★
- Out now
