Crawl
Slab Note, 2020
8/10
Though he spent his formative years playing jazz. these days France’s Submarine FM is firmly soaked in the underground world of digital technology and analogue/modular synth. On Crawl, his innovative vision turns repetition, melody and constantly shifting textures into a refined science.
After the ambient opener “Intro”, where experimental ideas enter the nearly sci-fi approach, and “Akinator” follows with a creative exploration into dance friendly, electronic sounds that are as mysterious as they are exciting.
Halfway through, “Yourte” breeds a unique atmosphere that unfolds with a cinematic appeal, while “Crawl” spends 9 minutes enthralling us with tribal like percussion amid a hypnotic pattern of techno friendly landscapes.
Deeper yet, “Happiness Manager” buzzes and shimmers with some minor world music nods into a very agile form of electro-rock, and “Shingles” exits the listen ominously, where frisky synth and a harrowing backdrop make the diverse finish one of the album’s best moments.
At times minimal and other points much busier, as long as you enjoy your music unpredictable, highly adventurous and with a techno, electronic and punk spirt, Submarine FM will make you a fan pretty quick.
Travels well with: Christopher Sky- What It Is, it Isn’t; Laguerre/Noetinger-DnT