Upfrontbeats

Munk

- Chanson 3000

Gomma | 23.10.2014

Mathias Modica release’s a full LP under his well respected MUNK project ‘Chanson 3000’ on his very own Gomma Records. The German based artist and label have cemented them selves as Germans leading electronic label. With artists such Audiojack and Darius Syrossian and Danny Daze to name a few releasing successful records on the label.

Munk’s full length album is sounding hot, with a little help from
Mark Ralph (a producer and mixer for Daniel Avery and Franz Ferdinand) and disco legend Ray Mang lending their skills to the album by mixing and mastering some of the tracks. Munk has had an impressive career so far and this will be the highlight of 2014.

Some of the tracks have already had huge support from DJs like Todd Terje, Shit Robot, Tensnake and Disclosure have all been playing the pre-released singles from this new album: ‘Southern Moon’ and ‘Happiness Juice’. The rest of it is likely to be just as popular, given its whimsical charms. ‘Chanson 3000’, recorded in Berlin, is a truly free flowing fusion of myriad styles from experimental disco to nineties electronica, new wave to 80’s pop and even harmonic and melodic influences from the jazz-funk universe. It features vocals from the newly discovered Lizzie Paige from New York and Mona Lazette from London; both now living in Berlin’s vibrant ‘Neukölln’ scene.

‘Cartoon’ kicks it off in cute style with synthesized lines sitting next to live instrumentation in true harmony. It’s a slow deep disco leaning cut that leads perfectly to the sonically and musically rich ‘Happiness Juice’ with its swelling melodies and lush chords.

Mathias calls them ‘my ironic response to the ‘Get Lucky’/ ‘Happy’ hype of current pop disco’, mindful of the fact that Gomma ‘ along with Lindstrum and Todd Terje – was the first label to release new forms of disco 10 years ago: Munk & James Murphy’s ‘Kick out the Chairs!’ , Cosmic legend Baldelli’s comeback records and many other discoish gems.

From organic, raw sounding afro house jams like ‘The Beat’ to chugging, guitar laced efforts like ‘Misterio’ this album is full of left turns and delightful surprises. They are all held together by a real sense of personality and inventive ability that is inspired by composers like Quincy Jones and Trevor Horn as much as modern greats like Nico Jaar or Metronomy. There is rich songwriting along the way, too, like the sunny and happy ‘Transient Lover’ with its tooting arps and colourful drums, or the vintage sounding deep slap funk house of ‘What Do You Want From Me’.

This is a compelling album that bristles and brims with ideas, character and color. As such is sure to be one of the finest of the year. Certainly the finest to which Munk has put his name in his already illustrious career. What’s more, the album proves there is more to the Berlin landscape than the usual techno and deep house starlets, with Munk and Gomma very much bringing the music back to German electronics. On that note, look out for the Gomma ‘Pop Futuro’ compilation which will be dropping later in 2014 with music from the likes of junior & boman, esperanza aka death heat, metronomy, moullinex, daniel avery, banjo & freakout.