Otchim - Reves Brises
A Russian and a Frenchman: Anton Berezin and Jordi, from St Petersburg and Paris, in a project called Otchim, now in its fourth work, the second for the prestigious Label Sierpien Records.
Seven hypnotic souls encircle us between Kraftwerk, Robots, D.A.F. and more, for a temporal journey that lands at the end of the 1970s and starts again at the end of 1983. Everything is there, deposited, certified.
But then a sprinkling of contemporaneity is needed, and the duo inserts it perfectly, like splinterless cylinders, with unquestionable precision.
First of all, the soul: Post-Punk, but without overt displays, because it is kept hidden, inside notes on which electronic attitudes are placed, in which Coldwave and Synthwave play the game, in a splendid draw.
Their undoubted ability is to bring dance into a conscious space, where utility cannot be stopped by fun. Here, then, the seriousness of this record consists of microchips activated to make us become thoughts hired by them to find physicality. A miracle, and it is worth emphasising this. Jordi's singing in French offers romantic feather cells that cannot be deprived of Anton's Sarmatian bassoman, in which he lives the discipline and rigidity that blocks the music beautifully, not allowing it too much sentimentality.
Simply a dutiful and enjoyable album awaits you: don't hesitate...
Alex Dematteis
Musicshockworld
Salford
9th February 2023
https://sierpienrecords.bandcamp.com/album/reves-brisees
