Blinkers
A tant Rever du Roi/Kerviniou, 2019
9/10
A French outfit who take an interesting approach to noise-rock, Mnemotechnic has been plugging away for a decade now, and Blinkers, their 3rd album, finds the band in a darker place.
“Alpinist” starts the listen harrowing and throbbing as a visceral post-punk and industrial setting moves into the chaotic yet controlled affair, and “Leak The Civilians” follows with an ominous quality as manipulated vocals and a dense backdrop add to the mysteriousness.
Elsewhere, the jagged “Out Of Nothing” moves with a thick tension of seething rock, while “Along The Sun” trims the volume back to primarily vocals in the slithering spareness.
At the end, “Like King And Child” brings a thundering presence to a quirky rocker, and “By Accident” exits the listen swift and full throttle before segueing into a hypnotic, propulsive formula.
An extremely unique listen where the bristling, raw and textured song craft brings to mind some of the best aspects of ‘80s post-punk, Blinkers is an enthralling listen from beginning to end, one that’s unpredictable in all the best ways, and as adventurous as it is complicated.
Travels well with: Big Black- Atomizer; Blind Idiot God- Undertow