Welcoming Kebu – ‘Perplexagon’ Album Review.
Artwork by Widi Susanto – Click Here.
Kebu is a Synth-Music composer who is heavily influenced by the 70’s and 80’s Dance and ambient culture. Using only analogue synthesisers he creates a whole world of musical landscapes, which often feel like they’re transporting you back in time.
Sorry Doc, we don’t need that car of yours anymore.
Kebu’s debut album from 2012, To Jupiter and Back played out as a tribute to the great music he grew up with. The album was well received, going straight to the Top 30 on the Finnish album chart and was later nominated for ‘Best International Album’ in the German Schallwelle Music Awards.
\\Perplexagon//
Album art image originally painted by Hedi Väisänen – For the original canvas – Click Here.
‘Part 1’ – Welcoming you right back to the 80’s with some high register synth. The gloomy atmosphere of this track would be ever so fitting for a scene in an action film, where the protagonist is training himself to battle. Layer after layer builds this track before cutting right to the next.
‘Part 2’ – The second track simply continues on from the last and really don’t see why it was cut from the previous. Again, its building up constantly and adding new forms of percussion with a few too many breakdowns in the mix, although that said, it sounds like it has a massive Ambient/Acid House vibe which you can’t go wrong with. This would be a killer soundtrack for the Friday nights you’ll never remember.
‘Part 3’ has its twinkling Synth-notes bouncing off each other as a slightly similar feel to Darude’s ‘Sandstorm’ creeps through. Kebu is just poppin’ layer after layer on this track, which collectively rebound off each-other for a feel-good chilled vibe. Then, as soon as your chilled BAM! It kicks off! The first dance-able tune smacks you in the face! Remember to finger gun your way through this song with a Red Stripe at hand.
‘Parts 4 & 5’ The eerie Synth comes back into play, once again sounding like it’s from an 80’s action film. Get your weights out it’s time to start training my friend.
Kebu is working masterfully with layers again on ‘Part 5’ and he still hasn’t stepped away from that action film vibe. The percussion fits nicely helping to build it up, especially with some of drum parts, which sound hilariously like Phil Collins ‘In The Air Tonight.’
With ‘Part 6’, a chilled Synth comes back for everything and builds it’s way around. This has such a gentle sway to it, even when it changes section into what feels like a slowed down EDM track. It also utilises more synths that can only really be described as sounding akin synthesised flutes; either way, the mellow vibe is strong with this one.
Nothing like some sweet crescendoes to open up the track in ‘Dawn’, however the 80’s vibe is almost becoming repetitive by this point. It has the same euphoric feel which is something Kebu does well, but it also uses too many in the way of 80’s Dance influences, which is not holding my attention span as much as I’d wished.
However, the second half of the song is completely different and is it’s own saving grace.
‘Deep Blue’ spirals from the sub-bass and drums to some floaty synth-work once more, and is forever the basis for everything else to blend itself around. His work here is simple yet uplifting and euphoric. This is where Kebu, in my honest opinion works best, blending atmosphere with more danceable compositions, achieving that balance that makes his work appealing.
‘Solar Wind Surfing For Beginners With Dr.Bob’ shows Kebu’s clear obsession with the 80’s, if you can’t imagine playing some Nintendo arcade games to this, then you need to listen again.
The track goes into a luscious-synth part near the end, which is completely mellow in comparison to the first half but works well. From this section, it begins to swell constantly adding new layers on top of each other which then begins to take something away from the chilled aesthetic already entrenched, but compositionally you understand why.
‘Song For Roger’ is the beautifully mellow track to close this album. It’s almost as if you’ve travelled back through the 80’s renaissance to have ended on such a beautiful note. It’s very the soundtrack to the end of a heart-warming film; it’s ok kids, E.T’s home safe and sound and living a happy life, I swear.
At times, Perplexagon it can be said to merge together and be repetitive, but Kebu’s compositions are captivating enough to keep you listening, even if at times it reminds you of some cheesy action films, but hey, we all have our guilty pleasures, maybe yours is the throwback Electronic Music of Kebu.
Find all things Kebu and Perplexagon below:
- For news and updates, head to Facebook and his Official Website.
- For streaming of his music and videos, head to Spotify, SoundCloud and his Youtube Channel.
- For digital music, find Kebu on iTunes and bandcamp.
- Hard copies CD/Vinyl can be found at gigs as well as on his Official Website.
#StayFresh
