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Blueblut — Lutebulb
(Bandcamp Janka Industries, 2024, CD / LP / DL)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2024-10-09

Lutebulb Cover art

Blueblut is trio of musicians based in Vienna who play avant-garde rock music. Consisting of Pamelia Stickney (theremin and vocals), Chris Janka (guitar, loops, and samples), and Mark Holub (drums, vocals, percussion), they are assisted on their anagram titled fifth album Lutebulb by guest musicians Willi Landl (vocals on “Aumba”), and Eldis la Rosa (percussion on “Aumba”). Lutebulb is certainly one strange album, and it may take a bit to digest and appreciate the six tracks. “Cocktail” opens the album with a funky beat with ambient background sounds that hint at it being recorded live. It starts to fragment and then reassemble in a different direction. “Clarinot” follows with this odd ball improv sounding raucous track. Next is the seven-and-a-half minute “Aumba,” a piece that meanders between the melodic and raucous, with tempo changes, theremin, and weird wordless vocalizing. Then some German and English narration surfaces to end this outré, but good, track. The fourteen-minute-plus “Arrobark” follows that mixes in some squeaks, feedback, and other sounds that made me think of Quicksilver Messenger Service’s “Maiden of the Cancer Moon,” only to be followed by a jazzy guitar riff, some harsh dissonance, and a barking dog, which all ends with a church bell. Go figure. Then Blueblut presents the short “Tuna,” a guitar and theremin duet. And the album closes with the oddly named “Kaktusgetränk” that is almost a straightforward song but with a very twisted and crazed take on “Tequila.” Were they just freaking out in the studio on this track? So approach this wonky album with caution — it may surprise you.

Filed under: New releases, 2024 releases

Related artist(s): Blueblut

More info
http://blueblut.bandcamp.com/album/lutebulb

 

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