Kontrust - Time to Tango

Title: Time to Tango
Artist: Kontrust
Genre: Rock
Release Date: 28th August 2009
Label: ASR/Soulfood



Album Review

The Austrian sestet KONTRUST is active with its current line-up since 2005 and in the same year released its debut record ‘welcome home’. A video that’s been shot for the track ‘phono sapiens’ went on rotation on several music channels. Within the past years, the band also has made a name for themselves with their energy-packed live shows. Some of these energies have definitely found their way into the new album ‘Time to Tango’.

The stuff you’re getting confronted with now might be a little hard getting used to - particularly to those who are no big fans of Reggae or similar music. Why am I mentioning this? Because one prominent characteristic of KONTRUST’s sound is a double vocal part; one half is filled by Anna, having a great deal of power (If necessary) but also a mellower timbre in her voice and then there’s Stefan whose vocals are much harder and somewhere in-between growling and the mentioned Reggae-like tones. If we now have a listen into the album opener ‘Dancer in the Sun’ we’ll hear that the band obviously is not averse to integrating oriental influences into their music. What is breaking through the speakers afterwards though is anything but oriental with sawing riffs, banging drums and feverishly pulsating percussion.

The second track ‘Play with Fire’ is introduced with a quirky electronic loop that leads into the prevailing mid-tempo rock part which later emerges in a high-speed outburst that blasts the dust off your desk. ‘Sin ‘ is one of a few placid moments on the album where driving force isn’t the first priority. Here, a passionate, emotional voice caresses ear and soul, implanted into a comparatively restrained arrangement of down-tempo electronics, tender piano, strings and guitars. ‘Clown Parade’ is opened by a little Mexican orchestra and ends with a beautiful wind section, but between these two poles there’s one hell of a rollercoaster ride to go through.

Without me ever having attended one of their various live shows, I’m absolutely sure they’re a furious blast to watch. If a band already can release such an energy and passion on a CD recording they must be. Another plus point for them is the orchestration which goes beyond traditional rock music standards. Now, all that’s left for me to say is congratulations for a fresh, dynamic album guys.


Tracklist

01. Dancer in the sun - 3:05
02. Play with fire - 3:57
03. On the run - 3:18
04. Personal rotation - 3:13
05. The smash song - 3:18
06. Sin - 3:43
07. We add the world - 4:29
08. Mainstream bypass - 1:49
09. Clown parade - 3:39
10. 1k1 - 2:53
11. Lato - 0:27
12. Vodka, tribe and dynamite - 3:07
13. Zero - 3:19
14. Känämänännä - 1:00
15. Bomba - 4:57
16. Face and filter - 4:31


Line-up

Agata – Vocals
Stefan – Vocals
Robert – Guitar
Gregor – Bass
Manuel – Percussion
Roman - Drums


Website

http://www.kontrust.info/ / http://www.myspace.com/kontrust


Cover Picture