Dadanaut – Brimborium
Dadanaut – Brimborium – EP Review
And here we are…we have arrived. This is the third installment of our recent explorations into the music of Dadanaut this year…which I suppose means the rest of you out there have some catching up to do! As to whether or not these latest records were intended to be some kind of trilogy…I dunno…you’d have to ask our digitally-based friend that question…I just take what comes at me when it comes at me, and Phantasmagorien, Reaktokratie, and Brimborium all arrived in one big batch. So here we are…at the end…at least for now. We’ve been listening to Dadanaut’s music for the past four years straight, so I’m sure it’s safe to say there will be more soon enough as the output of this project continues to accelerate.
As “Klimbim” began to build with its ominous aura, you can hear the level of imagination at work in what Dadanaut creates through its sound selection. “Klimbim” progress to reveal a more bouncy and rubbery type of sound as it plays on, which was somewhat of an unexpected departure from the quiet storm that seemed to be brewing as it began. I really dig the opening…I suppose if anything, I might have liked “Klimbim” to stick closer to the way it started, but it’s hard to complain about that when I’m usually making more comments on how Dadanaut could stand to change the music more than we tend to find it does. I suppose I can’t have it both ways, you know? Seems like that would be a little unfair to the creator & all. Anyhow…I guess it’s still fair commentary to say that “Klimbim” simply shifted away from what I was personally connecting to, and into something that, who knows, maybe you’ll connect with more than I did! We all like what we like and love what we love. The quality itself never drops in the production or the execution, so it’s really all a matter of which sounds resonate more for you. For me, it’s the very beginnings of “Klimbim” that made the most impact, but I still felt like the rest of the track was able to maintain my interest well enough too. I will say that, of the three records I’ve been listening to over these past several days, it did feel like Brimborium was off to a slower start than the rest by comparison, but credit where credit is due, that’s largely because the opening tracks that Dadanaut has been creating have been pretty damn cool, and the competition is pretty damn tough. The confusion of this first track seemed to end up being a harbinger for what would follow.
“Rambazamba” you say? I might just have to adopt this word permanently into my own lexicon. I’ll admit…I actually looked that up to see if I could figure out its definition, because honestly, I was like, I dunno if this SOUNDS like a “Rambazamba” to me, you know? And as it turns out, there was no literal definition or translation, so we’re left to believe it’s an expression or slang of some kind – but to me, the word sounds like…a celebratory exclamation of some kind, doesn’t it? “RAMBAZAMBA!” Seems like something you’d shout at your opponent right after you knock over a strike on bowling, or in the process of dunking on someone on the basketball court. However, the sound of “Rambazamba” seems to be anything but that…so there you have it…that’s the effect of assumptions in the relationship between songs and their titles, which is something I touched on in the first review of Dadanaut earlier this week. Sometimes you end up setting the wrong expectations, or again, just assuming that a song is gonna sound different because of what the title might imply to you…it happens to all of us now & again. Did I think Dadanaut’s interpretation of what a “Rambazamba” might be came anywhere close to what I was imagining? Hell no! But that’s okay. It’s not about what I think so much as what’s happening in the music, objectively. The definition in the most intense moments of bass & low-end on “Rambazamba” are practically nightmarish, threatening, and menacing…and I suppose if I was pinned down for an answer, I’d likely tell you those are the highlight aspects of this particular song. This bizarre cut displays some solid production techniques to it…lots of back & forth between the rights and the lefts like it’s the soundtrack to an out of control escape pod drifting around in space…but I don’t know that there’s a whole lot here to help guide this ship to the safe landing we’d all hope it would make. You get a bit of an inspired spark around the 3:15 mark as the low-end starts to snarl and raise up at us…but even that seems to be just another coat of paint on a canvas that’s already served its purpose as best it can. I liked the way it wrapped up so succinctly? Maybe that’s enough of a positive? “Rambazamba” wins the award for the best title without question…but as an idea itself, it did seem like this was a little too thin.
So we’re still looking for a decisive win here on Brimborium. Is it going to be the third track, “Lapalie?” I’m not entirely sure I felt like that was the case either. I’ll say this…after the low-end definition of the previous track, I think Dadanaut made a wise decision in lightening things up with a more atmospheric approach to the melody on “Lapalie.” I felt like the main issue with this particular track was that I’m not really hearing anything I haven’t already heard from Dadanaut several times over…so…you know, it’s one of those double-edged sword scenarios where I can’t completely complain about getting more of something I enjoy as a fan, but at the same time, I feel like we should be hearing a bit more growth and daring artistic moments instead of playing it safe. I do dig the textures, frequencies, and tones…all that stuff is good, but so far Brimborium seems to be searching for its own meaning…something to define this moment in time and give this particular record its reason to exist…and we seem to be drifting further from that happening. That being said, I would probably tell you that “Lapalie” is the most complete of the first three ideas that we’re exposed to on this record, even if it does feel like it still desperately needs something more than it currently has. There’s a framework here that could end up going on to be the backbone of something else…maybe…but as a standalone track, I am not quite convinced that Dadanaut has got enough here to keep engaged with “Lapalie,” or Brimborium…yet?
As much as I would love to say this wandering streak has come to an end by the fourth track, “Mumpitz” – we’re not there. We’re still in search of a reason for the purpose behind this record. You know I love ya Dadanaut, but Brimborium feels very much like it’s either in the incubation stage still, or built of the B-sides in your catalog…and…well…I mean, that’s a bit concerning, ain’t it? Y’all know how I feel about moments like this. As I’ve already said a hundred & one times on these pages of ours…if you’re in the independent scene…and you do NOT have a whole bunch of record executives with suits & ties poking you in the ribs with a sharp stick demanding that your new music came out YESTERDAY…then take your freakin’ time dear readers, dear friends. There’s no reason to rush in doing what you’re doing, and with this being the third record in just about as many days that has come my way from Dadanaut…I think it becomes easy to identify the issue here. The objectivity is non-existent. What they call ‘studio ears’ have set in. Ground control to Major Tom…this tin can is spinning on outta control at this point! I’m not sure we’ve got material that is ready for public consumption whatsoever in the first four tracks of this last in the trilogy I’ve got on my playlist. “Mumpitz” is…I mean it sounds like I feel when I’m listening to it, how about that? Kinda aimless…devoid of that intention, purpose, and imagination we sincerely love in the music of Dadanaut. I get what it’s like to have that creative spark of inspiration and want to make ALL of the music under the sun for a while…but it should usually be the cue to put the brakes on. Space and time away from the music is actually what creates real perspective, difference & uniqueness…and without that time, we’re essentially doomed to repeat ourselves and water down our artistic potential.
Officially worried about Dadanaut as I head into track five and “Kokolores” starts to move at a crawl like those days where you can’t quite wake up or shake off the sleep from the night before. This ain’t it Dadanaut…this ain’t it. I feel like we’re listening to a record built on pushing record and hoping for the best…the set-list feels very devoid of the planning and care that’s essential to making great music, and it really doesn’t seem like Dadanaut came into Brimborium with concrete ideas. This is typically the kind of stuff that can sour folks on the Experimental genre…because there’s a difference between an experimental process, and an experimental sound – know what I mean? I’ve been to live shows where everything is improv, avant garde, and made up entirely on the spot – that can be some of the most exciting and inspired stuff you’ll ever hope to see & hear when it goes right. When it goes wrong, it’s a largely different story, obviously. In the context of a recording…it’s so much harder to pull off in a very convincing way…and while I can’t confess to know the exact process of how Dadanaut created this record, with the songs coming out at half strength & decidedly less imaginative…it’s hard to feel like this is the best foot to put forward for this project. “Kokolores” ended up feeling like we spend about four of its four & a half-minutes searching for something that might work out, only to never really find it. Even when the song starts to spark to life as we pass the third minute, it sounded like a clashing of two entirely separate ideas that really had no business even being in the same room together, let along on the inside of one song. Contrast can be a great thing, but even the greatest examples of contrast still feel like they’ve got some intense planning and testing behind them…right now, I’m at the point where I’m starting to wonder if I’m the real test audience for Brimborium…and I didn’t really sign up to be that.
I’m one of those crazy cats in music criticism that genuinely believes the best thing I can ever do for an artist or band is tell them when they’ve fallen straight off their nut…and I am definitely at that point with this record. It wouldn’t serve Dadanaut at all for me to claim that Brimborium is anywhere close to being on par with the other two records I’ve reviewed this week, because that would take all the credibility out of everything good I’ve had to say along the way…and I’m never gonna be dishonest with the artists & bands that come through these pages of ours. So heck yeah Dadanaut…this is one of the most clear cut examples of a back to the drawing board scenario that I think I’ve heard throughout my twenty-five years of independent music-journalism. We’ve lost the plot here I’m afraid. By the time I got to “Shnickschnack” I was completely bewildered, straight up, full stop. You have to somewhat look at it from my side of the speakers…up until this record, I feel like Dadanaut had everything pretty dialed in to what Dadanaut does…so to hear the wheels fall right off is very strange indeed. It’s to the point where I have to wonder how Dadanaut wouldn’t have realized that every bit as much as we would as listeners…because it’s really that obvious, in my opinion. Do I expect everyone out there is gonna have that same opinion I do? No. I never do. There will of course be some folks out there that’ll swear this is the BEST record by Dadanaut…and if that’s you, then enjoy it friend-o! It’s our differences that make the world go ‘round, right? As a longstanding fan of Dadanaut’s music though…and in knowing the vast potential of what it CAN be at its best…I kind of have to shake my head in wonder at this lineup of songs.
I had my whole body crossed along with my fingers hoping that “Stumpfsinn” would somehow right this ship and sail the record to at least one victory before it was over. I just kinda sat here with my mouth wide open, wondering what the heck has happened here on Brimborium. Where, oh where, have the standards gone to? If this was a meal, Gordon Ramsey would be yelling “you’ve given up” & “Get OUT” at Dadanaut right now…and I ain’t gonna lie to you…I’m actually a bit in shock when it comes to this lineup of songs and how far wide of the mark this seemed to drift. I’m not one that EVER wants to shit on someone’s creativity if it can be avoided…but I don’t know how to avoid it here Dadanaut. “Stumpfsinn” didn’t find what it was looking for either…and it’s left me with nowhere else to turn on Brimborium…I never found the purpose within these songs…I never found the record’s reason to exist. The material we’ve got here is half-baked at best…and for a project I know is more than capable of creating seriously profound ART in music…that has such an extraordinarily unique skillset and the ability to show us remarkable authenticity in its craft…I’m completely perplexed by this set-list from start to finish. I’m not trying to be unkind here…quite the opposite…I’ve got nothing but love and respect for Dadanaut, and I only want to see this digital hero succeed…and the best way I can do that is probably to recommend scrapping Brimborium altogether and scrubbing the evidence from the internet entirely. I make it a point to try my best to never have any expectations of anyone, because we all have our moments where we stumble along the way…and it’s all about what we learn from that and how we move forward from there. In my heart of hearts, I know that Dadanaut is capable of so much more than has been revealed to us throughout the course of this record. In fact, you can go back to yesterday and the day before to prove what I’m saying is true…there are lots of great moments on Phantasmagorien and Reaktokratie to be found. Maybe I’m missing something on Brimborium, or maybe my spidey-sense is off here somehow…but I’m not hearing the redeeming qualities or memorable moments we need to find on this record by comparison. Even as “Stumpfsinn” attempted to get something going after three minutes, it was like watching a dying fly make its last couple of kicks in the air before it curled up altogether. I’m not saying that I deserve more outta Dadanaut or that we deserve more out of Dadanaut – I’m saying that Dadanaut deserves more out of Dadanaut! What perplexes me the most is that I can’t help but suspect that Dadanaut would have to KNOW that this record wasn’t quite up to snuff given how good things have been throughout the length of its career…so it becomes a question of why you’d choose to release Brimborium at all if it wasn’t ready or held to the same high standards? I wish I had those answers for ya…but I don’t. We’ll have to hope that Dadanaut slows things down, finds the ability to be brutally objective with the material again, and goes on to come back ten times stronger than this in time. I want way more outta Dadanaut than this…and I hope that Dadanaut feels the same.
Find out more about Dadanaut at the official website at: https://dadanaut.de
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