Printed In Gold: villeneuve

Sunday, 18 May 2008

BAUHAUS.

today, as my Google toolbar is so happy to remind me, it's the 75th anniversary of the closure of the Bauhaus school of art (1919-1933). Walter Gropius and his followers are attributed with changing many of the existing preconceptions in european and world architecture, art and ceramics by extolling themes such as simplicity, clarity and, above all, functionalism in their finished pieces and ideas.

with this in mind, perhaps exacerbated by the increasingly dank and heavy weather, my mind and my music taste has been wandering into the realms of the clear, linear dance rhythm. where better to look then than the homeland of the Bauhaus movement itself: germany?

for the purposes of this investigation, i have turned to the dream team that is PUZIQUe (www.myspace.com/puzique), made up of Printed In Gold favourites Alex Ridha (Boys Noize) and Andi Mead (D.I.M.). their sound fits all the hallmarks of the bauhaus movement: deceptive simplicity, understated clarity, BUT, most of all, it serves its function - to get people dancing.

THOMAS EP

the tracks on PUZIQUe's first EP, Thomas (2006) contain all the raw power of their two producers respectively, but the energy levels have been compressed and contained somewhat to create these three tittalising bundles of potential kinetic energy. ENJOY!

Thomas, as the name suggests, is something of a tribute to the output of the legendary Thomas Bangalter, with that hi-hat drumline reminiscent of the one found on TB's own Spinal Beats.

PUZIQUe - Thomas

the next track, Relaxe!, has got a definite D.I.M. accent to it. could it be a new electro-techno maximised gem along the lines of Vitalic's seminal La Rock 01? all i'm going to say is.."just..maybe...maybe....!"

PUZIQUe - Relaxe!

PUZIQUe show their minimal edge here, and i like it! centering on a rolling bassline, crossfaded effects carry the simple tune to new levels. interesting. bewildering. i can't get enough of it.

PUZIQUe - Chemie

DON'T GO EP

their second EP, Don't Go (2007), takes on more of a 'filter-house' flavour with its eponymous opening track. the soulful, oldschool vocals are supercool and the kind which get stuck in your head and just won't go away..ironically...

PUZIQUe - Don't Go

Cissor takes the record in a different direction, with its relentless analogue techno sounds swerving and diving over persistent snares.

PUZIQUe - Cissor

again, there is something of a change of tone and pace in Suite 9. don't be fooled by this one, it may start sweet enough, but wait for the break(s) and you won't be sorry - this one's a catchy builder of a track: ENJOY!

PUZIQUe - Suite 9

one release a year doesn't seem too bad for two guys with such heavy schedules, who would probably have to take time out just to meet, let alone sit down and produce sweet sweet mewzick together. but, if the trend continues, should we expect a new EP sometime later this year? all reports suggest "YES", and i'm eagerly anticipating a September release. but, what form it'll take, we'll just have to wait and see...