Rocker (feedbot)
Platinum Member
If there’s anything we know about Perturbator, it’s that the French musician knows how to transport us to a cyber-punkesque land, not too dissimilar from the likes of Tron or Blade Runner. Perturbator is a master at treading a path between an 80s past and a dystopian future; are we back in a time of big hair and neon knee pads or have we travelled to a derelict world… still with the neon but not the knee pads?
James Kent’s 8th studio album, ‘Age Of Aquarius’ doesn’t need to leave you wondering where you are, it’s pretty obvious within the first song, we’re the future baby and you might as well accept it and enjoy the ride.
The opening track, ‘Apocalypse Now’, whilst not the strongest song on the album, features lyrics which are already fast becoming a reality. Norwegian guests Ulver’s echoing vocals combined with a drum drenched in 80s reverb really sets in a haunting tone which only develops throughout the rest of the album, creating a darkwave disco that will be stuck in your head.
Setting the stage for the world ‘Age of Aquarius’ is building is ‘Lunacy’. Back to just industrial synths and running beats, this track throws us into the future with a bang. Starting slow, building up tempo and then halting with a small breakdown not even a minute in, ‘Lunacy’ creates a sense of wonder and you can’t help but feel like you might need to be running away from something.
If you’d missed that classic thumping beat of Perturbator than look no further than ‘The Art of War’. It’s what we’ve all come to love about the musician, whining drones and the feel that you should really be in the Berlin club scene wearing tiny sunglasses and a mass of black PVC.
The thing that ‘Age of Aquarius’ does well to build a narrative is change the tone over the course of a few songs. Moving on to ‘Lady Moon’; a track that can’t help but be sexy with siren like vocals from singer Greta Link and a constant heart beat drum filling our ears with an uneasy dread. We’re still in a Berlin club, but something isn’t feeling quite right.
Bringing the feel more serene and calming is ‘Swimming Pool’. We all need a break sometimes and that’s what this song is. A track of pure piano and ethereal chimes, ‘Swimming Pool’ creates the sense of just that, a swimming pool. Floating, freeing and wonderfully devoid of chaos. If you ever feel the need for sleep or meditative music, this is the one… until the final 30 seconds where a snippet of the film Bride of the Re-Animator talks about the rejection of God. The film itself is based loosely upon a H.P Lovecraft collection of short stories and if anyone was the king of apocalyptic futures, it was him.
The title track rounds off the album with a sense of uncertainty and unease. It might be the longest song on the album but it’s a beautiful conclusion. A slow start building to droning, tribal vocals and ending with that classic Perturbator thumping heart of a beat, ‘Age of Aquarius’ almost gives the listener a hopeful ending.
Perturbator is a magician with electronic music and this album is proof that he isn’t going anywhere. Whether you just enjoy listening to uneasy darkwave or a more gentle synthwave vibe, ‘Age of Aquarius’ has something for any Perturbator fan whether old or new. If anything, it’s a wonderful soundtrack to listen to whilst enjoying our current dystopian nightmare.
KAT OSTICK
James Kent’s 8th studio album, ‘Age Of Aquarius’ doesn’t need to leave you wondering where you are, it’s pretty obvious within the first song, we’re the future baby and you might as well accept it and enjoy the ride.
The opening track, ‘Apocalypse Now’, whilst not the strongest song on the album, features lyrics which are already fast becoming a reality. Norwegian guests Ulver’s echoing vocals combined with a drum drenched in 80s reverb really sets in a haunting tone which only develops throughout the rest of the album, creating a darkwave disco that will be stuck in your head.
Setting the stage for the world ‘Age of Aquarius’ is building is ‘Lunacy’. Back to just industrial synths and running beats, this track throws us into the future with a bang. Starting slow, building up tempo and then halting with a small breakdown not even a minute in, ‘Lunacy’ creates a sense of wonder and you can’t help but feel like you might need to be running away from something.
If you’d missed that classic thumping beat of Perturbator than look no further than ‘The Art of War’. It’s what we’ve all come to love about the musician, whining drones and the feel that you should really be in the Berlin club scene wearing tiny sunglasses and a mass of black PVC.
The thing that ‘Age of Aquarius’ does well to build a narrative is change the tone over the course of a few songs. Moving on to ‘Lady Moon’; a track that can’t help but be sexy with siren like vocals from singer Greta Link and a constant heart beat drum filling our ears with an uneasy dread. We’re still in a Berlin club, but something isn’t feeling quite right.
Bringing the feel more serene and calming is ‘Swimming Pool’. We all need a break sometimes and that’s what this song is. A track of pure piano and ethereal chimes, ‘Swimming Pool’ creates the sense of just that, a swimming pool. Floating, freeing and wonderfully devoid of chaos. If you ever feel the need for sleep or meditative music, this is the one… until the final 30 seconds where a snippet of the film Bride of the Re-Animator talks about the rejection of God. The film itself is based loosely upon a H.P Lovecraft collection of short stories and if anyone was the king of apocalyptic futures, it was him.
The title track rounds off the album with a sense of uncertainty and unease. It might be the longest song on the album but it’s a beautiful conclusion. A slow start building to droning, tribal vocals and ending with that classic Perturbator thumping heart of a beat, ‘Age of Aquarius’ almost gives the listener a hopeful ending.
Perturbator is a magician with electronic music and this album is proof that he isn’t going anywhere. Whether you just enjoy listening to uneasy darkwave or a more gentle synthwave vibe, ‘Age of Aquarius’ has something for any Perturbator fan whether old or new. If anything, it’s a wonderful soundtrack to listen to whilst enjoying our current dystopian nightmare.
KAT OSTICK