Schwabbingrad Ballett “s/t” [Staubgold] (33 RPM)

This is a rotating collective of German electro pop eccentrics devising rhythmically irregular neo-nostalgia strains. Neo-nostalgia? Yeah, it’s almost like a romantic yearning of past sounds & ideas but then reversing that flux into a more progressive push towards an inevitably modern musicality. Confused? Well, they’re a puzzling bunch to say the least. And rightly so! Using a composite alias which conceptually merges clashing visions of the Nazi’s most devastating defeat and the initial bohemian riots by street musicians, S.B. intentionally set out as a political music project meant to equally disorient and rejuvenate organized activism, as well as stimulate individual consciousness. Plenty of playful male & female vocals, winds, lovely string arrangements, accordion bellowing, and avant-pop weirdness. Relatively short sound experiments, juxtaposed dualities, and flirtations with free jazz spirit & ideals in an indie electronica format. Occasionally haunting, yet fairly engaging, English & German verses intermingle throughout this self-titled release. I’d be damned if I could explain precisely what they’re doing, but that might be missing the point. Some things defy explanation. You simply must accept them for what they are as they’re happening. I don’t think S.B. is meant to make perfect sense in the grand scheme of things and that’s perfectly alright!