Brandt Brauer Frick: Multi Religion Prayer Room

As a result of Music

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Launched 2nd June 2023

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After 4 years, Berlin trio Brandt Brauer Frick return with their most formidable document to this point. That includes a plethora of fascinating collaborations, Multi Religion Prayer Room will make you suppose AND make you dance. Gordon Rutherford opinions for Louder Than Warfare.

4 years after their earlier launch, Berlin trio Brandt Brauer Frick are as soon as once more pleasuring our turntables with their musical magic. Nevertheless, Multi Religion Prayer Room, their sixth studio album, is a bit of totally different from what has come earlier than. As soon as poetically dubbed by the BBC as “live performance corridor compositions for the clubbing technology”, this new launch sees the band veer extra in the direction of the clubbing finish of that individual spectrum. Certainly, there are moments when Multi Religion Prayer Room reaches the components that few different up to date dance albums can’t.

The trio’s members are Daniel Brandt, Jan Brauer and Paul Frick, who has been working time beyond regulation as a member of the legendary digital outfit, Tangerine Dream, since 2020. All three are classically skilled and all through Brandt Brauer Frick’s journey, courting again to their 2010 debut, You Make Me Actual, they’ve efficiently infused their ascetic model of minimalist, groove-based dance music with their classical background. The result’s a sound that’s comparatively distinctive.

That description will undoubtedly result in some preconceived concepts. German, classically skilled, Tangerine Dream connections? Put them apart, pricey readers. Multi Religion Prayer Room is an extremely upbeat, raucous affair; one which has laugh-out-loud moments of comedian genius. Take the album’s crazily ironic stand out monitor, Act One, for instance. This story sees our narrator open up by telling us that he shared a joint with a bunch of scientists final night time, earlier than recounting the deeply philosophical debate about local weather change that they had. With out lacking a beat, he tells us that he went on to have a threesome with “two lovely people I had met on the local weather protest”. “The intercourse was wonderful”, he states earlier than advising that he “had forgotten how essential a threesome is”. These proclamations conflict with feedback concerning the ecological disaster the planet faces at the moment.

It’s sheer pathos; weird and ridiculous. But, on the similar time, completely good and surprising. It will get higher. The next afternoon, upon awakening with the 2 different events, they resolve to drop acid and go to a rave. And herein lies a important side of Multi Religion Prayer Room. Our narrator tells us that “our minds have been full of quotes about Mom Earth, however our our bodies…”

Maintain that thoughts and physique factor, for we will return to it quickly. Meantime, staying with Act One, we’ve got elevate off. The unobtrusive, minimalist backing monitor drops. It returns with a pulsating bass line, rising in depth. Rapper Mykki Blanco enters, driving the tune ahead with function. In so some ways, it’s paying homage to the Faithless competition basic, God Is A D.J., and if the world is working because it must, Act One will increase out of colossal sound programs at festivals throughout Europe this summer season. There may be even a line that proclaims, “I elevate my hand to God, I kiss the pagan sunshine”, reinforcing my perception that Act One is a tune designed to be heard in a discipline underneath twilight skies.

That acid journey dichotomy in Act One, the place the thoughts goes a method and the physique one other, principally sums up Multi Religion Prayer Room. That is an extremely cerebral album, one which takes a deeply philosophical method to our future. But, concurrently, Brandt Brauer Frick’s music is compelling us to neglect every little thing and dance. Let’s stick with the latter theme for now, as a result of these moments that act as endorphin machines are those that can stay lengthy within the reminiscence.

While they’ve labored with associates beforehand, Multi Religion Prayer Room is Brandt Brauer Frick’s most collaborative document to this point. So effectively have they chosen their collaborators that the album’s highlights invariably happen when the trio convey one other voice into the room. Nearer To You, that includes the legendary dance vocalist, Duane Harden, is an absolute stone chilly throwback to the halcyon days. It’s completely electrifying. Equally, This Feeling, that includes the hovering voice of Swiss singer-songwriter, Sophie Starvation, is destined to thrill throughout the continent’s golf equipment. Huge Assault and Gorillaz collaborator, Azekel, brings his attribute voice to the throbbing, pulsating membership vibe of In Your Head Now. It’s an infectious tune that can linger in your head for a while.

That’s all effectively and good. Nevertheless, as beforehand referenced, there may be extra to this assortment than simply banging dance tunes. Along with the 9 standard tracks on Multi Religion Prayer Room, there are 4 shorter, extra thought-provoking items. These, all of that are signposted by having their titles capitalised, serve to interrupt the occasion; to successfully say “look, we all know you might be having time, however we have to speak”.

When the album was being conceived, the band took the choice to reconnect with the idea of utopia and try and encourage constructive desirous about the long run. They reference their dismay on the scientists on Act One, stating frustration on the quantity of scorching air, however paucity of options. Moreover, a kind of shorter break items, probably the most thought-provoking of them, is actually entitled FUTURE. It options Catalan composer Marina Herlop, who might be finest recognized for her work as a pianist/vocalist. Usually for Multi Religion Prayer Room, there may be neither piano nor singing. As an alternative, we’re offered with varied items of cut-up discourse, ruminating on ‘the long run’.

One other spotlight, this time one of many instrumental tracks, is the aptly titled Mad Rush. Bearing nice similarity to the second half of the Mischa Blanos composition, Innervision, its frantic enjoying is completely thrilling; like a 3am race down the autobahn at 100 miles an hour. In fact, not each monitor on Multi Religion Prayer Room hits the heights of Mad Rush or Act One. Few albums do. Nevertheless, when Brandt Brauer Frick fly, they fly excessive.

Multi Religion Prayer Room might be the trio’s boldest, most capacious album to this point. Concurrently adventurous, playful and cerebral, it’s a document that can make you suppose and make you dance (and chuckle) and that’s absolutely one thing to rejoice.

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Brandt Brauer Frick could be discovered right here. They’re additionally on Fb, Instagram and Twitter.

As a result of Music could be discovered right here. They’re additionally on Fb, Instagram and Twitter.

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All phrases by Gordon Rutherford. Extra writing by Gordon could be present in his archive.

Gordon can also be on Twitter as @R11Gordon and has an internet site right here: https://thedarkflux.com