Overload by <1979>

<1979> celebrate 2019, obviously, with an all new album at last, and what a blast: Expect an hour of pure, classic analogue power, repetitive loop-based rhythm’n’noise the way you don’t find it often anymore. The meter of machines and the grating hum of electricity make for a timeless sound that permeates body and mind. For generic dance floor tracks look elsewhere, this sets active effort before its enjoyment.

Seven years in the long grass – what is technically the sophomore HANDS album by <1979> is in fact a complete reinvention of the duo’s sound. Just like before the predecessor “FM Interface” Frequen-C and DrMOllE took their time to let their ideas mature and develop through live gigs, DJ-sets and scarce underneath-the-radar releases. Most importantly, in 2014 they changed their setup to all analogue gear, with the visual aspect of the live performance in mind, but the decision surely has affected their production techniques immensely. Devoid of electro references or dance floor kicks this is uncompromised noise overload in the cherished tradition of Esplendor Geometrico and Sonar.

That said, tracks like “Panic” or “Flash” surely kick like a mule and will certainly be heard from DJs thus inclined. Nevertheless, this is an hour of specialist entertainment that is best savoured in one piece: From the warm bass throbs of “Mindtorture” or “Strength” to the shuffle of “Spirit”, from the cheeky retro attitude of “April” to the hypnotic finale “December”, “Overload” is an album that’s meant to grow, and it should develop best at high volume levels. <1979> intriguingly demonstrate why this sound is still to be reckoned with in 2019!