Dieter Schöön: 'Lablaza'
An explosion into a Beck-style percussion landscape is the inimitable introduction to Swedish psychedelic pioneer Dieter Schöön.
Multi-lingual, multi-instrumental and sincerely multi-talented, the vocal is icily cool, Germanic consonants which call Berlin-era Bowie to mind.
Opener 'Manuel' is a swish Roxy Music-meets-Scissor Sisters electronica affair, but loses its way and runs about a minute too long.
The mariachi trumpets of laidback 'Mary Jane' call to mind Hello Saferide's 'High School Stalker', and with Schöön's trademark Julian Casablancas-style vocal, the references flood in throughout the record.
Although each track is executed with a degree of musical professionalism that evades some, there is a distinct lack of warmth to the sound.
'Warm Hearts', which pays homage to nothing so much as a stoned Kraftwerk, is laden with Schöön's heavily-accented english, but even its classic waltz rhythm and synthesized melody can't bring the much needed human touch.
A much needed injection of emotion comes in the form of the atmospheric, tragically-themed 'Soft And Slow', building to a heart-rending crescendo with the lyric, "Where you been so long?" bringing the listener into a world of hurt, but it's quickly business as usual with the ruthlessly efficient 'I'll Go There' and 'Auf Wiedersehen'.
Schöön shows talent and promise, but there's something lacking in the execution. Perhaps the next record will see Schöön shine.
Words: Kirstie McCrum
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