Girls In Synthesis – Konsumrausch

 Girls In Synthesis are truly unique and a band that defies any form of categorisation. Here we see the release of ‘Konsumrausch’, their new five track mini-album which I must say came about quite unexpectedly, even for those like me who have followed Girls In Synthesis over the past few years. Produced and mixed by the band themselves, here we have a record that is never afraid to take the listener off in a different direction than their previous releases and while there’s no doubting this is Girls In Synthesis, these new songs introduce a slightly different soundscape to that we are used to. Nontheless this new mini-album is as good as you’ll hear anywhere. This is brutalism delivered musically and on their terms.

Up first we have ‘Pulling Teeth’ and ‘Enveloped’, two recent singles that were available only as digital downloads, but now on vinyl for the first time. On ‘Pulling Teeth’ we have a monumental 9:33 beast of a song where we hear bassist and vocalist John Linger sing “In a vein attempt to explain myself”, not that this band need explain anything to the listener as they let you explore your inner mind to try and work out what they and their music are saying to you. ‘Enveloped’ kicks off with a fantastic drum machine loop that initially made me wonder if we were in for some 80’s soul sonic force, electro-funk hip hop, but once you listen to the lyrics “I’ve seen a glimpse of my future” you are very quickly brought back down to earth with the realisation that this songwriter sees a very dark and bleak future for us all. Girls In Synthesis approach their subject matter with little sensitivity as they set out in these songs the stark reality of everyday life, whether that’s the struggles of the working class, mental health or the socio-economic situation that confronts us all.

‘Bypassing’, and ‘Interlude’ introduce a greater electronic feel to them and again show that Girls In Synthesis are not afraid to mix things up and around. Girls In Synthesis stand apart from anyone else in the music scene today, and no more so than on their final track on this album, ‘The Engine’. Which is for me the greatest track from Girls In Synthesis to date. Instantly recognisable like ‘The Mound’, their first single, was, but the addition of the keyboards really brings this to life, it’s a menacing, monster of a track and should be a single in it’s own right. John, Jim and Nicole have really set themselves apart from anyone else in the music scene and you’ll be hard pushed to find a better band right now.

The Konsumrausch EP will be released on the 17th June and can be pre-ordered on vinyl via Hound Gawd! Records & digitally through Bandcamp

Live photography courtesy of of Shot From Both Sides