French synthwave supremo Perturbator soundtracks a new dark age on sharp sixth album.
Astrology being a mug’s game, nobody’s quite sure when the Age Of Aquarius is supposed to begin – or even whether it’s supposed to be a good thing. However, one thing the horoscope-botherers can agree on is that it will be a period of deep change in human civilisation. This sense of oncoming, inevitable cataclysm permeates the sixth album from French digital terror Perturbator.
Ulver-featuring opener Apocalypse Now dives straight into geo-political conflict, Kristoffer Rygg drily invoking ‘Another war to end all wars, again.’ But while a few guests show up with vocal contributions, for the most part Age Of Aquarius conjures its themes through electronic instrumentals that crackle with tension. The martial stomp of The Art Of War and Mors Ultima Ratio’s high-BPM techno certainly evoke troubled times, albeit ones where strobe-lit dancefloors might provide welcome escape.
But Perturbator has never been one to stick to a single path, and Age Of Aquarius takes the listener down gentler diversions too. Hangover Square echoes the gauzy Vangelis soundtrack to Blade Runner, The Swimming Pool offers rare moments of hopeful ambience, and Lady Moon, while still rather glowering, just about qualifies as a ballad. Stretching out across 10 minutes, the closing title-track is an exemplary piece of work, Neige from Alcest delivering mostly wordless vocals over music that takes in Cure-shaped guitar gloom, crisp beats and a slowly building intensity.
Author & Punisher appears here on the Depeche Mode-adjacent Venus; what with his new record and the imminent return of HEALTH, this is shaping up to be quite the season for fans of the place where industrial, post-punk and electronica merge into a seamless, looming whole. Trust Perturbator to be right there in the forefront, ushering in this new dark age with suitably moody élan.
Verdict: 4/5
For fans of: HEALTH, Author & Punisher, Nine Inch Nails
Age Of Aquarius is out now via Nuclear Blast
