Minimalistic, introverted, nuanced quirky laptop experimental electronica by the New York duo Jonah Paz and Yaelle Avtan, following last year’s debut The Most Dear and the Future, this one named after a a rite of passage for Amish adolescents translated as "running around" in Pennsylvania German. Open-ended non-sequitur phrasing, semi-hidden voices, buzzes and squeaks, low-key blips and beats characterise their sound, and asides such as “Are you videoing me right now?” (Ne Plus Ultra) or “Are you able to hear the sound of my voice?” (Coil) bringing in a knowing, throwaway fourth wall to their dynamic. There’s a muted joy about this album, a carefree, but low-key energy of freedom and experimentalism and somewhat unhinged songcraft, with sudden dubstep breaks, weird lullabies, distant child voice (“They dropped me on the deserted island” on the song F) and odd wonder bring unexpected surprises with a muted sense of jest and wonder. Coil is a gentle low-fi opening, with a sighing vocals of sensual oddness and a wriggly folktronica (“Never cross, yellow line / Things unravel right on time / Both of us can't divide/ Laughing devil, love of mine / Standing there, it's absurd / I'll be gentle, little bird / On the road, right on time / Keep it simple, you'll be fine.” The title track trundles along with acoustic guitar and chattering voices, Ne Plus Ultra chops disembodied voices and crashing sounds with a buzzing synth riff, Water and Power and Threads , or the wispy sounds of Amsterdam are all coloured with electronica and whispered vocals so subtle that they require headphones to full appreciate their detail. Last track The Good Day Will Arrive has bleeping leaps like a lost signal, but is strangely beautiful. Truly odd and abstract, and almost unintelligible at times, but strangely entrancing. Out on A24 Music.
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