MISOPHONIA

Before and after ... how about your mental constitution, eh? ELECTRIC ORANGE are taking us by surprise each time, obviously ... so what the hell were they thinking by choosing 'Misphonia' as the album title in this case? [Wait, Doctor Psych dissents, you should take note of the fact that this specific sound is not intended to make you sick or crazy, no, not at all!] So what? This is health-promoting? You are sure? Please tell me, who will stop this organized suffering once for all? Who is able to look at the cover sleeve for more than one minute? Where are those promised puns regarding the track titles? ...

... you might get an answer for each particular question anytime soon, lucky you, but meanwhile two new others will come up. Welcome to the ELECTRIC ORANGE club! I mean, I'm wishing you well when it comes to (mental) health care on this occasion. Well, all right, why bother too much. I'll better slip into my (age) demented role ... taking the headphones instead, align myself for the voyage and stop puzzling about the direction mother earth is rotating afterwards. By the way, recently they were on a vintage trip slipping into some spaced-out dance music with Bossa Nova leanings, and the swinging Shattered de facto sounds like a leftover or deliberated transition.

But now reaching for something computable eventually ... never change a winning team! ... the band's line up remains stable since 2010. A reliable constant, such as a proven spaceship crew, which makes you feel safe about coming back to earth, always. What strikes here in any case is the strong and multi-faceted presence of Dirk Jan Müller's keyboard tools, be it the Tangerine Dream alike spheric patterns, farfisa and hammond drenched moments or those eerie synth outings. Maybe this can be called the band's all-embracing element, not in the meaning of something oppressive of course.

On the contrary, as Dirk Bittner, traditionally rather focussed on guitar and percussion, digs up more and more other instruments with each album. For example the trumpet decorating the title track and especially due to the use of a zither on the beautiful indo/raga styled Opsis. In addition Georg Monheim's fascinating drum playing is to notice, somewhat contradictive, while hypnotic and tribal either, but definitely varied during the whole course. Even bass player Tom Rückwald, often acting more restrained by nature in the past, has his flipped out moments.

'Misophonia' appears as an uncommon, unusual, magical affair. Can't believe if this was something coming impromptu. What still stays is the formidable challenge when trying to describe their music. ELECTRIC ORANGE always avoid trodden paths, no repetition please, are on a further expedition here. Especially when starting with the second vinyl they are offering new facets regarding their experimental approach, but seemingly never ever will loose contact to their (krautrock) base. Another must-have. Already waiting for the next bottledrone event.