Zwicker: Songs of Lucid Dreamers

Zwicker
Songs of Lucid Dreamers
Compost
2009-06-16

Zwicker is Zurich, Switzerland-based producer Cyril Boehler. On the aptly-titled Songs of Lucid Dreamers, he follows a familiar template. Guest vocalists — ranging from chanteuse Olivera Stanimirov to Australian DJ/crooner Jamie Lloyd to spoken word artist Billy Oden — lend character to Boehler’s stark, minimalist, often moody electronic textures. There are plenty of analog hisses and screeches to go around, and the overall feel is consistent despite the variety of singers. The two instrumentals fall flat, though, and Boehler can’t keep up the musical quality for the entire album. But highlights like the early-New Order-recalling “Ping Pong Muses” and discofied “Oddity” make Songs of Lurid Dreamers more than just another European cafe soundtrack.

RATING 6 / 10