The Gothsicles - Squid Icarus
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Not until now did The Gothsicles give a proper proof of their demented and playful method. With a bucket full of remixes, collaborations and even three long playing releases under the belt, Brian Graupner's intrusive squawk has certainly become a recognizable staple of his style but up until now he was still to deliver a definitive display of The Gothsicles' musical prowess. Enter "Squid Icarus", funded via a kickstarter campaign that with ease quadrupled the set goal, and playing a host to several industrial heavy weights Assemblage 23, Faderhead, Rotersand, Haujobb, Angelspit and Cyferdyne amongst the others.
Although Graupner's verve and the way that he devotes almost every moment on "Squid Icarus" to the in-your-face celebration of geek-culture can be often mistaken for juvenile, this latest release is in fact the most accomplished and cohesive piece of music that he has ever delivered. From the opening, highly danceable "Super Scary Action Figure (I Want to Eat Your Brain)" it is clear that the final effect of his combined sense of humour and genuine wit is in no way overwhelmed by the abundance of pop cultural references and scene related whiffs of sarcastic criticism. The rhythm and the production never fall prey to band's defining qualities and, more than on any prior record, present a value in and of themselves. Even on tracks like "I Smelled the Glove" that ostentatiously exploit their comedic value, the balanced mix of high pitch synths and banter results in a dance-floor hit with more than one laugh out loud moment, planted amidst the onslaught of electro madness.
The prevalent method is that of the unobstructed flow of manic energy that circulates through the club destined constructs like "Ultrasweaty", which is straightforward in its energizing and dynamic tempo, and enriched by an array of effects. As if the track itself was glitching out, "Ultrasweaty" gains momentum while its beat-laden current gets buried under an avalanche of 8-bit beeps.
There's a good chance that you will come to "Squid Icarus" for the nods to Lovecraft ("Cthulhu Fhartwagon"), jabs at the industrial clichés ("Black T-Shirt (NIN cover)") and to honour the more obscure of the superheroes ("Moon Knight Is Cool") but with self-aware, raunchy tracks like "This Club Is Closed" you will quickly discover that this album is in fact one of this year's best attempts at unadulterated fun.
"Squid Icarus" is a raucous riot of a record, plain and simple, and Graupner once again ensured that his personality is a driving force behind the energizing music. More than ever before however The Gothsicles comes across as a fully formed alternative entity, catering not only to those invested in the hunt for references to the obscure comic book fiction and NES era gaming but also those who amidst the usual industrial cacophony are on the lookout for something more joyous, appropriately sordid but not one bit concerned with industrial squabble and petty, genre turf wars.
01. Super Scary Action Figure (I Want To Eat Your Brain)
02. Drop Dead, Squid Face!
03. Ultrasweaty
04. I Sniffed the Glove (vs. Cyferdyne)
05. Give Me One More Chance to Get the Hi-Score, Then We Can Go
06. Moon Knight is Cool
07. Chip Replacement Surgery
08. Black T-Shirt (NIN cover)
09. Sword Cane
10. Cthulhu Fhartwagon
Although Graupner's verve and the way that he devotes almost every moment on "Squid Icarus" to the in-your-face celebration of geek-culture can be often mistaken for juvenile, this latest release is in fact the most accomplished and cohesive piece of music that he has ever delivered. From the opening, highly danceable "Super Scary Action Figure (I Want to Eat Your Brain)" it is clear that the final effect of his combined sense of humour and genuine wit is in no way overwhelmed by the abundance of pop cultural references and scene related whiffs of sarcastic criticism. The rhythm and the production never fall prey to band's defining qualities and, more than on any prior record, present a value in and of themselves. Even on tracks like "I Smelled the Glove" that ostentatiously exploit their comedic value, the balanced mix of high pitch synths and banter results in a dance-floor hit with more than one laugh out loud moment, planted amidst the onslaught of electro madness.
The prevalent method is that of the unobstructed flow of manic energy that circulates through the club destined constructs like "Ultrasweaty", which is straightforward in its energizing and dynamic tempo, and enriched by an array of effects. As if the track itself was glitching out, "Ultrasweaty" gains momentum while its beat-laden current gets buried under an avalanche of 8-bit beeps.
There's a good chance that you will come to "Squid Icarus" for the nods to Lovecraft ("Cthulhu Fhartwagon"), jabs at the industrial clichés ("Black T-Shirt (NIN cover)") and to honour the more obscure of the superheroes ("Moon Knight Is Cool") but with self-aware, raunchy tracks like "This Club Is Closed" you will quickly discover that this album is in fact one of this year's best attempts at unadulterated fun.
"Squid Icarus" is a raucous riot of a record, plain and simple, and Graupner once again ensured that his personality is a driving force behind the energizing music. More than ever before however The Gothsicles comes across as a fully formed alternative entity, catering not only to those invested in the hunt for references to the obscure comic book fiction and NES era gaming but also those who amidst the usual industrial cacophony are on the lookout for something more joyous, appropriately sordid but not one bit concerned with industrial squabble and petty, genre turf wars.
01. Super Scary Action Figure (I Want To Eat Your Brain)
02. Drop Dead, Squid Face!
03. Ultrasweaty
04. I Sniffed the Glove (vs. Cyferdyne)
05. Give Me One More Chance to Get the Hi-Score, Then We Can Go
06. Moon Knight is Cool
07. Chip Replacement Surgery
08. Black T-Shirt (NIN cover)
09. Sword Cane
10. Cthulhu Fhartwagon
