Woodwork Music
Baikonour
Label: Melodic
Description:
Uncompromising bass grooves, hypnotic melody with insistent hooks and a building air of optimism.
This is the second album from Baikonour, an international concern by Jean—Emmanuel Krieger, hailing from Versailles and now resident in Brighton, named after a Russian rocket launching site, seeking most of his inspiration from his frequent trips to Nepal and sounding unmistakably teutonic! Not dissimilar to the results of a journey taken by The Cocteau Twins on a sleeper train with Stereolab to Krautrock central (Vangelis running the buffet trolley). This is an album that contains heavy hitting punchy bass-led grooves (“Fly Tiger”) alongside more delicate elaborate pieces (the epic “Ye Ama Piooo), whilst relishing in the overall sound of poppy progtronica.
“Chiru” is a gently simple hypnotic twinkling groove that opens your heart from the first bar then gets right inside your head as the more rocky overtones develop. The charms of “Tombahead” are a Pheonix-esque immediacy, rolling melodies with insistent hooks and an incredible building air of optimism – unstoppable!
Things to watch:
Releases we represent:
- For The Lonely Hearts Of The Cosmos | Album | Melodic | 2005
- Your Ear Knows Future | Album | Melodic | 2008
Quotes:
“His second full album beefs up the guitars but retains the twinkling chimes, light, space and melody that give all his work such a hypnotic sense of wonder.” Music Week
"A very pleasing listen". The Daily Telegraph ****
“As “Fly Tiger” kicks in suddenly this album takes off.” Mojo
“An intriguing collection of emotive, psychedelic songs that’ll provide some warming escapism this winter.” Daily Music Guide
“Your Ear Knows Future feels like a gentle trip around Western Europe, during the Golden Age of experimentation that has since proven to be as crucial to 90s dance & electronica, as it has been to post-rock.” Drowned In Sound
“Building on the krautrock and psychedelia records that informed his childhood, Baikonour’s eclectic and lushly recorded debut deserves all of your attention” Dazed & Confused
“Baikonour uses Mac-mixed organic instruments, giving clipped punctuation and recessed gothic detail to proggish washes of organ and guitar.” Uncut
“The results bridge post-rock and motorik grooves to whoozy effect, pretty tinkles and dense textures snuggling up in lovingly attended electronic-pop bundles.” The Independent.
“It is a work with it’s head in the clouds, a beautiful immersive application.” Alternative Ulster
Tracks included on the following samplers:
- Woodwork presents Melodic Download sampler here
- New Music Vol 4 Download sampler here
