Koenig - Messing [Ventil Records Promo]

Released via the Austrian Ventil Records-imprint on June 3rd, 2k20 is "Messing", the ten track solo debut album by acclaimed drummer Lukas Koenig a.k.a. Koenig who managed to base the entirety of the compositions on this longplayer on manipulation and recording of one single cymbal. An impressive feat and approach in its own right this leads to astounding results like the rhythmic, buzzing and well noisey, motor-like opener "Hot Springs" which could be described as a wonderful love child between a struggling lawn mower blown over from afar and a buzz saw whereas "Handrolls", featuring a highly expressive Spoken Word vocal performance by Elvin Brandhi, borders psychotic high speed madness whilst "Ceres" provides super raw Industrial rhythm signatures in a sense every early Einstürzende Neubauten-fans will surely approve of. Tunes like "Mr. Kiwi" which sees NYC legend and Mutant HipHop pioneer Sensational on microphone duties spitting razor sharp bars provide more darkness and threatening danger coming in from a post-apocalyptic, post-nuclear warzone, "Radce" provides 97 seconds of abstract, dense, detailed rhythm shifts before "Sesselleiste", the third collaboration on "Messing", weighs in a massive hit for late night Rhythm Industrial dancefloors lit by max speed strobe lights sporting fever'ish German Spoken Word eruptions. Furthermore "Makeshift" is a grinding fest for all followers of nightmare'ish Slowcore Illbient, "Eyeball" brings on a cold, metallic and undeniably sci-fi-leaning aspect of Koenig's solo work, "Chop ZD" once again harks back to early Neubauten with an electronic twist and the concluding "Figure 8" pays homage to Lukas Koenig's roots in Jazz and complex, fast paced, yet intrincate drum sequencing. Beyond excellent.