The trio FORMA has a sixth sense for analogue synthesizers. Their music consists of the reproducible sound from the 1970s and early 80s. It’s an obnoxious, yet fascinating sound, of which the ambivalence has been especially crystallized by Oneohtrix Point Never. Its design was used as an characteristic trademark by musicians like Com Truise, Jonas Reinhardt or Steve Hauschildt. FORMA’s sound can be classified somewhere between Krautrock and Kosmische Musik, even though the New Yorker’s self-titled debut from 2011 was much more influenced by a dreamy kind of escapism. »OFF/ON« does not conceal its feel for Jean Michel Jarre and Tangerine Dream, either, but has more drums to offer than their first record. However, while Com Truise thwarts the ambivalent sound-design with the help of a contemporary beat, Mark Dwinell, Sophie Lam and George Bennett still stick to the instrument from long, long ago. Hence, the difference can only be marked by a specific up-to-dateness concerning arrangements and compositions. Sometimes, this approach works extremely well, like in »Off« and »FORMA 2868«. It’s also convincing in the tracks without a strong beat, like »FORMA 313« and »FORMA 358«. However, it can also sound like dry organ music (»FORMA 306C«). Finally, »OFF/ON« has a lot to offer concerning nuances and details – it’s a record with the potential to grow with every listen.
Off / On
