I don’t think I will ever forget the first time I heard m.=addiction. I can also confirm that every time I played out that record, folks waltzed over to me to find out the name. Something mystical and enigmatic brought them over to music, making me feel like I was a snake charmer enchanting a cobra with the sounds of a pungi. The music of Dictaphone often evoked hazy spaces, full of jazzy smoke, lo-fi textures, and noir voices, occupying those distant corners of your memory where you felt glamorous comfort, charming enchantment, and warming delight. Since the 2002 debut, Oliver Doerell and Roger Döring have released five more albums, all of which I think I covered on Headphone Commute. And, in my humble opinion, their latest upcoming release is the closest to that special atmosphere I felt nearly two decades ago. Unstable is Dictaphone’s 6th full-length, where Doerel and Döring are also joined by Alexander Stoze (on violin) to mesmerise us with that special scent of future-retro nostalgia that seems to drift in the air like thick incense in a temple of capricious ghosts. Today, I’m happy to premiere for you the opening track, titled “Desplendor”, which unfolds like a half-remembered dream, unknown, familiar, and intimately unique.
The dark atmosphere and experimental sound of the new album is a reference to the 80s Belgian art music scene, which Doerell had the luck to experience in his formative years. Minimal jazz meets musique concrète meets a postpunk mind.
Once again, the full album, Unstable, is still a few months away, set for release on September 26th via Denovali. The beautiful cover is designed by Helga Raimondi, whose vocals also appear on the album. I’d aim for that beautiful, clear blue 12″ pressed on 180g vinyl. I also spy a repress of Dictaphone’s Poems From A Rooftop coming out on the same day on cokebottle green vinyl. Highly recommended.
