Reformat is a remarkable project, developed by Luke Pajak and super-producer Russ Russell (Napalm Death / Dimmu Borgir), with Russ’ multi-talented son, Jay, on drums. United by their love of heavy rock, vintage pop, and even science fiction (think John Carpenter circa Escape from New York), Reformat deal in a remarkably airy form of electronica, sometimes reinforced with industrial elements and hulking great riffs, but always with a positive energy that is utterly enthralling. Following on from the band’s debut (The Singularity, released in 2018), Precursed was recorded around the lockdowns of 2020 at Parlour Recording Studio in Kettering and yet, despite the challenges of the period, the trio managed to deliver a coherent and life-affirming album that leaves the listener feeling strangely cleansed at its conclusion.
The album opens with the brief scene-setter, Precursed, an ethereal track which sees distorted voices and synth textures floating in the space hitherto occupied by the likes of Mogwai. It paves the way for the stunning Obsolethal, which draws from Depeche Mode, Pendulum, and Devin Townsend Project to deliver an effervescent burst of guitar-fuelled heavy pop that really sets the album in motion. As twitchy as some of the elements are, the overwhelming feeling is one of joy, and it takes a moment to reflect how rare it is to hear music in this vein delivered with such obvious delight by the participants. Barely pausing, the album heads straight into Tysgan, a melodic piece driven by Jay’s drums and juxtaposing gorgeous vocals with a dark ‘n’ dirty synth bass line. The glitchy Haruspex has a unique rhythm all its own, the sound slowly filling out to incorporate toy box melodies and alien vocals. Better still is Paroxysms, which draws on the blissed-out sounds of Three Trapped Tigers and Fuck Buttons, the descending riffs of the introduction giving way to something far grander in scope as the song progresses. In contrast, the ambient Detrusa floats on a calming sea, like some long-lost outtake from the David Gilmour / Orb collaboration, although it takes on a darker, harder edge as it progresses. It’s a sign of the trio’s wide-ranging interests that the album not only incorporates such a range of influences, but also forges them into a coherent whole that flows beautifully.
One of the album’s most direct tracks, Dead Place is introduced by an epic riff, and although the verse sees the energy dissipate in favour of airier sounds, the guitars return with stunning force periodically throughout the song, resulting in a dynamic and engaging piece. The stuttering electronica of Astromanx sees the album change gears once again, the band exploring the territory once occupied by Losers on their first album. There are still plenty of surging guitar riffs to enjoy, however, and the rambunctious Sierra Oscar positively explodes, Reformat revelling in a torrential outpouring of noise that combines the heady optimism of Devin Townsend with the post rock artistry of Mogwai circa Rock Action. It segues into the woozy synthscapes of Prince Valium, which (titular nods to Mel Brooks aside) opts for a stunning series of melodic riffs, interconnected by Luke’s understated synth patches. It leaves Postbreath to see this most beguiling of albums out, providing a gentle coda that leaves us feeling almost bereft when the album spins to a halt.
Crafting electronic music is a challenging endeavour. It’s easy to get lost amidst the myriad options, the wide sonic palette potentially detracting from the genuine human emotions that sit at the heart of good music making. There are no such issues here. The focus is absolutely on emotion, and the warmth with which Luke, Russ and Jay have imbued each track means that you feel a genuine sense of loss when it finishes. A kaleidoscopic journey into to a world of colour and imagination, it’s a trip you’ll want to take time and again. Beautifully produced, as you would expect from Russ, and with mesmerising arrangements, reviewing Precursed has been something of an unexpected highlight of my musical year. 9/10
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