Blondage "Blondage" (2016) (ep)

Blondage, ep [debut]

release date: Sep. 15, 2016

format: digital (5 x File, MP3)

[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,92]

producer: Blondage

label: self-released - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: 1. "Lucky Black Skirt" - 2. "Dive" (2,5 / 5) - 3. "BEG" - 4. "Pray" (2,5 / 5) - 5. "FLF"

Studio EP debut by Danish synthpop duo Blondage, which basically is identical to the duo Rangleklods who most recently released the acclaimed Straitjacket (May 2015). Esben Nørskov Andersen and Pernille Smith-Sivertsen are both credited all songs and music as was the case on the 2015 album.

The 'new' name of the duo with reference to 'Blonde' and 'Bondage' may be a result of restarting a career with a more international edge after experiencing some attention from both the British and the US markets - and then some [national] critics already pointing to the odd ambiguous Rangleklods, which again was a made up name, although, in Danish only.

The five tracks here have a total running time of approx. 18 minutes and the style isn't far from what we heard on Straitjacket. You could add that the musical soundscape has been condensed to a lighter and less aggressive, or: less playful style, which doesn't include the archetypical progressions from house nor the electronic reminiscense from the first releases by Rangleklods. It's more like MØ (especially on "Dive"], Oh Land and the huge pond of contemporary generic pop, which loans and has its foundation deep in art pop, electropop and dance pop - and where 'pop' is the common denominator. Andersen and Smith-Sivertsen now sings on most tracks together utilising the new standard: vocoder and emulators. Instead of being groundbreaking or highly original, this mostly sounds like a detour into club and 'pop'-land. To me, it's too strained and willed likeable. Only composition with a positive outcome is the end-track "FLF" (abbreviated for 'Feel Like Falling'), which combines indie pop and electropop with a fine melody. Imho, this is the least interesting release by Esben Nørskov Andersen.

Some critics - see below - found this a fascinating turn, but still the duo never issued a full-length album. They released a few more singles - after a single remix released Nov. 2017, Andersen and Smith-Sivertsen - now a romantic couple - apparently decided to split as a musical duo but now with Smith-Sivertsen continuing as Blondage, while Andersen returned to his one-man brainchild project of Rangleklods.

[ 😮Soundvenue 5 / 6 stars ]

Rangleklods "Straitjacket" (2015)

Straitjacket

release date: May 18, 2015

format: digital (11 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,86]

producer: Esben Nørskov Andersen

label: self-released - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Lost U" (4 / 5) - 2. "Schoolgirls" - 4. "Degeneration" (4,5 / 5) - 5. "Forgive" - 7. "Dry Me Out" - 10. "Straitjacket"

2nd studio album by Rangleklods follows three years after Beekeeper (Mar. 2012) and is produced by project-founder Esben Andersen. Before this, the project has been expanded to a duo with co-songwriter and vocalist Pernille Smith-Sivertsen. All tracks are credited the duo with two tracks (tracks #3 and #4) being co-composed by Mads Damsgaard Kristiansen, and track #5 co-composed by Reggie Watts.

Stylistically, Rangleklods has moved on from some of the indications on Beekeeper but it's still a pretty long jump into this club-founded electronica and mostly uptempo house and synthpop variation. Smith-Sivertsen adds a new dynamic to the music, but it's basically much more varied arrangements using sampling and something influenced by electroclash, although, it only really manifests on the title track.

Straitjacket is easily the band's best effort, and it's really a fine danceable mix both pointing back to Art of Noise, Depeche Mode, as well as more contemporary names like The Knife and Moby.

Highly recommended.

[ Gaffa.dk, 👍Soundvenue 5 / 6, Politiken 4 / 6 stars ]

Rangleklods "Beekeeper" (2012)

Beekeeper [debut]

release date: Mar. 10, 2012

format: digital (10x File, MP3)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]

producer: Rangleklods

label: self-released - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Clouds" - 2. "Empty" - 3. "Puzzlehead" - 4. "On Top" - 6. "Cough" - 10. "Beekeeper" (acoustic guitar version live)

Full-length studio album debut by Rangleklods follows only four months after the EP debut Home EP (Nov. 2011) and it was originally released on A:larm Music and on Austrian label Schoenwetter Schallplatten (later Ink Music) and available on bandcamp.

On this, Rangleklods is credited lyrics, music, recording, mixing, and production, and Rangleklods remains the solo project by Esben Nørskov Andersen; however, a few songs here have additional vocals by Pernille Smith-Sivertsen, and she would from 2015 take part in the project as a duo.

Despite being released only four months after Home EP it's evident that Rangleklods has progressed into a more melodic sphere, although maintaining an electronic foundation. Stylewise, it's touching on synthpop with inspiration from indie pop and industrial rock, which has both made the soundscape more dark but nevertheless also more mainstream - without being traditional pop. Where the EP made me think more of Danish band Veto and LCD Soundsystem, this one makes me think of Efterklang and Interpol mixed with Trentemøller, and the result is anything but mediocre. And really, where Efterklang is a full band, Rangleklods is (still) a one-man project, and yet Esben Andersen is both a fine songwriter, vocalist and skilled instrumentalist handling both electric guitar and electronic equipment.

Beekeeper makes Rangleklods a very promising name to look out for.

[ Gaffa.dk 5 / 6, Undertoner 3,5 / 5, 👎Soundvenue 3 / 6 stars ] [all in Danish]

Rangleklods "Home EP" (2011) (ep)

Home EP, ep [debut]

release date: Nov. 6, 2011

format: digital (3 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,42]

producer: Esben Nørskov Andersen

label: self-released - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: 1. "Home" - 2. "Young and Dumb" (live 2012) - 3. "Behaviour"

Studio ep-debut by Danish one-man electronic project Rangleklods consisting of Esben Nørskov Andersen. The EP was originally released on CD via independent label Sound Of Copenhagen (founded by the two Danish DJs Kjeld Tolstrup and Le Gammeltoft) and later distributed via bandcamp.

Although, this first release only contains three compositions, it's quite a varied 'collection', basically showcasing what Rangleklods is all about. It appears as influenced by idm, drum n bass as you know it from Aphex Twin and then with influence from house, big beat, and 'beats' in general - music with an electronic dance appeal - and some indietronica where rock blends with the electronic genre. I hear bonds to other Danish artists such as Veto and Trentemøller, but also with influence from LCD Soundsystem, Aphex Twin and Fatboy Slim.

Best song here is the end-track "Behaviour", which also sounds like a fine mix of Veto and Aphex Twin.