A Trace To Keep Control is Dortmund’s Present Paradox‘s attempt to confront pressing social issues such as the climate crisis and a social shift to the right.
By Graeme Smith
Feature photo by David Kleienkottmann
As well as those broader topics, the album also touches on personal stories of upheaval and familiar closeness all through a sound that brings together elements of krautrock, post-punk and jazz.
It’s a collection that opens slow and brooding. The Crack pairs isolated notes with offbeat drums and expressive vocals to create an atmospheric and hypnotic story. The attention to detail in the lyrics mean that they paint a captivating picture and there’s enough experimentation to have us guessing where the instrumental will take us next.
From there we get lively moments like The Boxes contrasted by delicate meditations like An Avatar On A Black Surface. Ready To Hide is an understatedly funky highlight which is rich with striking lyrical poetry and bright moments of brass. Ephemeral Ghosts, too, stands out. It’s suitably haunting with some jangly and looping guitar melodies that slowly build atmosphere before we arrive at an exotic world that holds up a black mirror to our own.
Gurus Circel draws you in with an irresistible rhythm that slowly builds, bringing with it a sense of tense urgency. A choir of angelic vocals provide some nice contrast in the crescendo. We Need To Take Control simmers psychedelically before hitting a pacy, percussive groove. A vibrant freakout of a climax is a highlight. A Lens To Find A Trace closes the album in a reflective fashion with some slowly marching drums and echoing notes.
Present Paradox is a truly unique artist who manages to say a lot with his new album. He expertly brings together challenging compositions with plenty of relatable emotion. It feels very much a record for our modern, uncertain times.
A Trace To Keep Control is out now via Timezone Records. It’s available to buy as a digital album or on CD on Present Paradox’s Bandcamp page. You can check out the album below.
Supported by Musosoup #SustainableCurator