Stefan Schwander aka Antonelli Electric aka Repeat Orchestra continues his explorations into the fusion of rough-and-ready afro-rhythms and multi-layered machine funk he started last year with his new alter ego Harmonious Thelonious. His sophomore album „Listen“ is like his predecessor (last year’s „Talking“) full of polyrhythmic complexity, tribal harmonics and gritty and distorted textures. But, where „Talking“ was all about hypnotic minimalism with kalimba sequences looped over layered percussions, „Listen“ is full of sweet, simple melodies and hooklines. Take the opening track „Argwöhnische Muziek“ for instance or „Ting Tong“ and „Vernachlässigte Muziek“, all riding on heavy hypnotic ryhthms and playful melodies. Maybe that’s the influence of the wave of Shaangaan Electro that swept through northern Europe thanks to Honest Jon’s compilation last year. Anyway, it’s a great album.

by artistxite