DE STAAT

I simply love bands who eschew genre labelling, and when that ethos is married with music of the quality to be found on De Staat's sophomore album 'Machinery', then it's a recipe for one of the best, most original releases I've heard in a while. Described by some journalists, perhaps rather dismissively simplified, as alt-rock, and by others as avant-garde, no label will suffice or do justice to the musically heterogeneous beast that is 'Machinery'. Beyond that, Dutch nutters De Staat do not simply transcend genre through their style per se, rather each song is intrinsically different to the last. Opener 'Ah I See' is perhaps best described as a fusion of The Cramps with Oingo Boingo (anyone remember film composer Danny Elfman's onetime band?), 'I'll Never Marry You' exudes Nick Cave idioms, while 'I'm A Rat' alludes to a Prince (sorry, "artist formally known as") type of vibe. However, such descriptions only skim the very surface of what these tracks, and others on the album, actually sound like. Perhaps the greatest achievement of 'Machinery' is that De Staat have not only succeeded in making an album that is thoroughly iconoclastic and uniquely innovative through and through, but it remains a very accessible listen. That is to say, they haven't sacrificed good, solid songwriting for wild experimentation. The experimental elements are in perfect harmony with the compositions. That' no easy feat. In short, 'Machinery' is riveting, entrancing and pure musical brain candy. Amongst some of the best experimental music I've heard since Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. A fucking phenomenal album - go buy it now!

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Cool Green Recordings

Album

MACHINERY

Review by Mark Holmes

RUNNING TIME:

40:54

RELEASE DATE:

7th March 2011

TRACK LISTING

1) Ah I See
2) Sweatshop
3) I'll Never Marry You
4) Old MacDonald Don't Have No Farm No More
5) I'm a Rat
6) Keep Me Home
7) Tumbling Down
8) Psycho Disco
9) Rooster-Man
10) Serial Killer
11) Back to the Grind

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Netherlands

"...the greatest achievement of 'Machinery' is that De Staat have not only succeeded in making an album that is thoroughly iconoclastic and uniquely innovative through and through, but it remains a very accessible listen. "