PNDC & Housework - Secondhand Language [Album]

Ammonite Records

August 21, 2009, 04:07 PM

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Eastern Europe’s star is definitely in the ascendance. Technically efficient and original producers are popping up in nearly every genre, bringing a very edgy and emotional sound to the masses and doing it all in good spirit. PNDC is another to add to this growing list.

Secondhand Language is an album that is hard to define or categorise. It is obvious that PNDC has a wealth of inspiration to draw on, from a plethora of genres ranging from the atmospheric instrumentation of the likes of 'Sosume Yokota' to the dreamy landscapes of 'Boards of Canada' and the new age pop of 'Air'.

Secondhand Language opens with 'At My Door' that combines electronic and organic elements to great effect. Driving, machine gun percussion is married alongside very able synthesizer work and airy reverberated, delayed guitar. At the 2 minute mark, the track breaks down into a wholly instrumental rhythmic guitar piece that adds depth and movement to it. On the whole 'At My Door' is an inspiring and emotional piece of music.

'Animal Farm' takes the album into darker territory and this is where Houseworks vocals really work a treat. The track has more than a nod to early Depeche Mode material and the coupling of well produced beats, guitar lines and synth elements make 'Animal Farm' a real stand out on the album.

'Pilots' takes the album even further, with the added element of a female vocal. 'Pilots' is very well produced with some really impressive beat production, an ably played guitar piece and again some nice synthesizer work. The vocals by “Shadowlike” add a density to the album that is perhaps missing on some of the other songs on “Secondhand Language” and, to be honest I personally would have liked to have heard more from the female vocalist, “Shadowlike”.

'Goodnight' is a wonderfully original take on the “Lullaby” theme. I am not sure if you could let your children to fall asleep to “Goodnight” but it would definitely help the regression to ones youthful former glory at any party!

In all, PNDC has attempted to combine strong electronic elements with a splattering of vocals, both male and female that sit on top of hugely modern beats and production values. “Secondhand Language” is a fine effort from this eastern European producer and will garner him some much deserved respect from within the industry. “Secondhand Language” also includes some bonus remixes that take the original elements of PNDC and take them further into dance territory, harking back to early Kraftwerk days and also to the more “up to date” EBM feel.

“Secondhand Language” really does have some fine elements on it, and PNDC has shown off some impressive production skills. He has an ear for a very good melody line which is helped, I am sure by the instrumentality and vocal strengths of “Housework”, and their good feel for a bouncy beat. There is more to come from PNDC, and I look forward to hearing the newer stuff while “Secondhand Language” should remain sounding refreshingly current for a while yet.

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