Pia Fraus / Ulrich Schnauss
split 7"
SekSound
Genre: shoegazer, electronic
Estonia & Germany
Nov 18, 2008 |
Estonian shoegaze stalwarts Pia Fraus and German electronic
legend Ulrich Schnauss have teamed up for this novel split
seven-incher. Each act contributes a track, but there's a catch:
Schnauss handles the production duties for Pia Fraus'
track, and vice versa.
The results are predictably solid considering the collective
curriculum vitae on offer here. Side A is home to "Mute the Birds," a
re-tooled track from Pia Fraus'
impeccable After Summer. Schnauss' production lends
the already ethereal track a fuller, more airy quality - the result is
a superior version worth a look for serious shoegazer fans. A
decreased emphasis on guitar means more attention is paid to
atmosphere, turning one of After Summer's better songs into a
mini-masterpiece.
Meanwhile, Schnauss's "Ships Will Sail" is exclusive to this
single and considerably more abstract, doing for shoegazer what
Caribou did for sixties pop on Andorra. Lush and massive,
the song has a wonderful, uplifting melody. The production duties are
also nailed by Pia Fraus, who do more than justice to
Schnauss's unique blend of electronic pop. Both tracks considered,
this is a fantastic record and one of the best split singles I've ever
come across. Vinyl should be proud to bear these grooves.
pia fraus'
myspace,
ulrich
schnauss' myspace
youuuuuuuutube!:
pia fraus' "springsister" video,
ulrich schnauss' "clear day" video
Matt Shimmer
[Vitals: 2 tracks, distributed by
the
label,
released 2008] |
