0Kontrol – 3rdeye2ndhand (CD Album – ScentAir Records)
Genre/Influences: Electro-pop, indie-pop, wave-pop.
Background/Info: 0Kontrol saw the daylight early 2018. The band was set up as an internet-project between St. Petersburg (Russia) and Brussels (Belgium) featuring Vladimir 4.44 (involved with the post-punk band The Quinsy) and Masha Kasha (active as a synth-pop journalist). They were joined by third member Konstantin Stanis1avsky.
Content: 0Kontrol is clearly driven by ‘pop’ influences, but we can’t speak about a clear and explicit sound. The songs are covering other influences, which are moving from indie-like songs to d’n’b passages to an EBM bass line reminding me of Front 242. Diversity is the keyword to seize the sound of “3rdeye2ndhand” and that’s an aspect that also comes back in the lyrics and vocals. The songs were sung in English, French, German and Russian. Masha Kasha is the lead vocalist, but there are also male (backing) vocals.
The last songs are remixes by People Theatre, WANT/ED and Alphamay.
+ + + : I like the diversity of the album. Right in the beginning it definitely sounds a bit versatile, but you rapidly will understand 0Kontrol deals with a wide-spectrum electro-pop sometimes reinforced by guitar playing. The songs are mostly powerful and I especially like the energetic cadence running through this opus. Now melodic and then into power-pop, this album has a lot to offer and make discover. The vocals have something fragile, but still featuring a few heavenly passages. I also like the EBM bass line running through “Traitors”. The songs have been masterly boosted by the remix of WANT/ed.
– – – : 0Kontrol still has to polish some little details of the production, but I don’t have real major minus points. I however think the artwork; especially the back-cover could have been better and clearer.
Conclusion: 0Kontrol is an original and refreshing newcomer band active in the wider fields of electro-pop music.
Best songs: “Light”, “Gologramma”, “Lune”, “Traitors – WANT/ed Remix”.
Rate: (7½).
Artist: www.facebook.com/nolkontrol
Label: www.scent–air.com / www.facebook.com/ScentairRecords
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