Review: Plaindrifter ‘Gestalt’
Plaindrifter are another one of those bands that I’ve heard good things about for quite some time and the hype has become a bit more real for the German trio now that they are part of Ripple Music. The famed label has high standards and an incredible reputation for producing awesome music, so with the release of their second album Gestalt, has it reached those expected levels?
Well, on first, second and third listens, the six songs are full of hypnotic riffs, mind-bending soundscapes and melodies that flow seamlessly, so I’d say an overwhelming ‘yes’, but more importantly, they have evolved. For the first time, the band, consisting of Marcel ‘Uwe’ Kloß on vocals and drums, Nils Stecker on guitar and André Tinibel on bass, have experimented with keyboards and guest vocals, in the shape of High Desert Queen’s Ryan Garney on In Anima, both to great effect.
It all begins with a somewhat soothing and sedate opening riff and drum beat on Moth Murmurationwith a mellow underlying bass sound chiming in for good measure. However, after two minutes, the vocals kick in alongside a heavier, impressive tempo with an imposing solo to boot. And just as you think the song is over, the trio from the Ruhr Area switch it up, adding a psyched-up sound in the mix, which helps it drift along.
This album is full of surprises, showing that they’ve grown in stature and confidence as a bright future beckons…
The ending leads nicely into Eternal Season as the vocals launch the song before the music really takes control. There’s a fuzzy underbelly in this one, which complements the slower sections; however, the guitar riff is intriguing and purposeful as the band invite the listener to join them on their journey of exploration. Throughout the album, you’ll be able to hear bands who’ve influenced this new approach, including Elder, King Buffalo and Lowrider, but the range of tempos they are trying out seems to work exceptionally well.
Hyborian Age has that beautiful dreaminess of a song, as it slowly builds the rhythm across the expansive nature of their music. It has a crushing guitar sound layered into the mix, which is imposing and unfaltering as the solo weaves more magic before we get the two-minute Respite with the keyboards featuring heavily. Garney’s vocal contribution appears next on the heavier In Anima, which sounds raw and passionate before a more sedate pace blends into the composition.
Again, the trio mix their tempos in a notable way, evident in the chorus/verse play-off, but there’s no battle for supremacy, as the overall rhythm and musical interplay is audibly delightful. It’s the sweeping range of key changes which impresses me the most as they are like three or four different songs in one. They close with Debaser, the longest track on the album, which incorporates everything they’ve learnt along this odyssey. The complexity of their material is evident for all to see and hear. This album is full of surprises, showing that they’ve grown in stature and confidence as a bright future beckons.
Label: Ripple Music
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Matthew Williams
