Munich-based electronic producer Mathias Modica is certainly a busy guy – as well as forming one-half of electronic pop duo Munk alongside regular studio collaborator Jonas Imbery, he’ also responsible for founding and co-running the fashionably trendy Gomma label, home to Whomadewho, Rodion and Headman. Four years on from Munk’ debut album “Aperitivo’ (which included the successful crossover “Kick Out The Chairs’ single featuring DFA/LCD’ James Murphy), this follow-up “Cloudbuster’ sees Modica and Imbery offering up a collection that’s arguably less eclectic than its predecessor, but definitely no less stylish. Like “Aperitivo’, there are certainly some fairly high-profile guest appearances here, first up from actress/model Asia Argento (daughter of Dario), who makes an appearance on the lounge / disco-funk infused opening single “Live Fast! Die Old!.’ From the outset though, it’s immediately obvious that Argento is no aspiring disco-house diva, with her partly spoken, digitally treated contributions sitting closer to a particular twisted Continental version of Laurie Anderson, indeed Munk use her manipulated vocals later on to fantastically twisted effect on the slightly pervy and downright bizarre “No Milk.’ As with “Apertivo’, Rapture bassist Matty Safer reprises his studio contributor role on two tracks here (including “The Rat Race’, which particularly resembles one of his “main’ band’ outings), but for the most part I was left with the impression that this was perhaps a more stylistically uniform and polished collection that while undeniably strong, didn’ really have as many standout tracks as its predecessor. Still, fans of the likes of Whomadewho and Headman’ electro/Italo-tinged disco-funk grooves should find plenty to like here.
Chris Downton
