Kreidler - Spells and Daubs '2022

Tracks list

       In a year of the moon, Kreidler have produced the album Spells and Daubs.
In a year of the moon – and in a yearwith 13 moons. Such years are known
for not being the most comfortable.

In September 2020 the band met for exploratory sessions and initial recordings
in Düsseldorf, in the familiar settings ofthe Kabawil Theater. That already
has a certain tradition. The impetus this time was a solitary gig in the
conspicuously spacious surroundings of the (former) Philipshalle. In a year that
threw everyone back on themselves.Over the winter Kreidler worked remotely,
sifting through the material, arranging the pieces, adding textures and
contours. They met again in the spring of 2021 for further recordings at the
Uhrwerk Orange studio in Hilden, near Düsseldorf. That, too, has a certain
tradition.

From fifteen pieces they filtered out ten, and thus held an album in their
hands. Then – and this is new – they took it to London, to Peter
Walsh, so that he could mix the tracks. Daubs are in no doubt here. This is a
tenfold of colourful-blotches-thrown-onto-canvas. Then a stepping back,
contemplating, remixing paint, layering, overlaying, scraping free again
elsewhere.

And these spells are not devastating curses, rather they are enchanting
incantations, a calling forth a spring without having to ban winter in a somber
masks. Spells and Daubs is a melodious interplay. Not that Kreidler neglect the
rhythmic; their characteristic drive runs through all the pieces on Spells and
Daubs. Perhaps it's like this: The beat is musicalised, the melody rhythmitised.

Spells and Daubs is like a collection of short stories. Its ten pieces explore
the same space drawn together by an overlaying arc. All of them have the length
of a single, and each one has the potential of a single in the way the
arrangements are laid out – so enticing is the melodic line and the beat.

This succinctness was perhaps last heard on the 2000 eponymous Kreidler album.
The drums are powerful with a light swing. The bass alternates beyond its
functionality and its indicator just of the low frequency, swoops up and takes
over the melodic lead. Perhaps most beautiful in the irresistible pop gems
Arena, Unframed Drawings, and Revery. Aptly Alex Paulick moved to the fretless
Bass – conjuring the spirit of Mick Karn.

For all of their Krautrock attributions, Kreidler never tire of reminding us
that their musical development stemmed form a love of British pop music. So you
might say the co-op with Peter Walsh is a match made in heaven. His illustrious
mixing and production skills have lifted works from Shalamar or Lynx to Heaven
17 to Scott Walker, Pulp or FKA Twigs into other spheres. Kreidler had
previously collaborated with him in 2013 for two tracks (Snowblind, Escaped). On
Spells and Daubs, Walsh's methods and magic are especially audible in the
spatial production, with his hallmark blend of depth and punch. Spells and Daubs
is wrapped up in an enigmatic black-and-white drawing by prolific artist and
filmmaker Heinz Emigholz from his Basis of Make-Up series. Their ongoing
collaboration feels like a constant now. The mutual interference of Heinz
Emigholz's and Kreidler's universes started about ten years ago, when he
expanded the album DEN(BB115) with seven videos.

1.01 - Kreidler - Tantrum (4:14)
1.02 - Kreidler - Toys I Never Sell (2:25)
1.03 - Kreidler - Dirty Laundry (3:07)
1.04 - Kreidler - Revery (4:01)
1.05 - Kreidler - Unframed Drawings (4:37)
1.06 - Kreidler - Freundchen (4:02)
1.07 - Kreidler - Arise Above (4:23)
1.08 - Kreidler - Music Follows Suit (3:40)
1.09 - Kreidler - Arena (3:48)
1.10 - Kreidler - Greetings From Dave (3:34) 

Related artists