:: Umlaut - Umlaut

Umlaut

It’s hard to remember a more experimental album being released in recent times then Umlaut’s self-titled debut. And while it does take more than one listen to really to begin to like this album, you can’t help at marvel at the skills and imagination shown on this album. Umlaut is the brainchild of Mr. Bungle and Secret Cheifs 3 sax player, Bar McKinnon. This is also the project that proves once and for all that McKinnon is a hidden music genius. This album is experimental music at its best, trying to pinpoint it to a genre is impossible but if you like something different then you’ll love tracks like ‘Kitty Puppy’; that can only be described as sounding like elevator music that has had one hell of a fight with a witch doctor. ‘Atlas Face’ is even more unique sounding, but it is tracks like ‘Dirty Dishes’ (which features McKinnon’s Mr Bungle bandmate, Mike Patton) and ‘Work Truck’ which will make you fall in love this album.

Umlaut borrows from genres of music at will; ‘Living The Dream’ sees a mixture of soft electronica melting into something heavier while ‘Bigfoot Is Real’ begins in full heavy rock mode, turns into a porn-movie bassline and then eventual ends in café noise. ‘Chill Pill (soy ta lahtoe) sees Umlaut create some sweet jazz sounds while the heavy rock sounds return on ‘Buttons’; a track I could listen to over and over. If you are a lover of experimental albums then you just have to give Umlaut a try, just be warned that it could take a few listens to really get into.