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Poligono Hindu Astral - 00110010 [Verlag System - 2015]

Spanish duo, Poligono Hindu Astral, have teamed with Verlag System for their first full length release. Through their use of analog instruments, Joni & Julio (of Antiguo Regimen) do their best to revive the classic, Krautrock "kosmische sound." Not pigeonholing their style to one distinct sound, P.H.A. runs the gamut from John Carpenter-esque slow burners to near rave-worthy head nodders. While rekindling the sound in their own way, P.H.A. fit right along side other contemporaries in today's synth scene, and continue to grow fans' interest in the wonderfully cosmic world of synthesizers.

Opening with the slow, bow-like "41º 24´22. 2¨N," P.H.A. sets the scene by letting the analog bliss fly. Drifting, rising, and falling like some form of robotic chamber music, the first track lets the listener know that they're going on a journey of deep, engaging, synthesized sound. "Terra Incognita" brings this cosmic action back to Earth (or, more accurately, some unknown land) with almost tribal beats and propulsive synth lines. One can almost feel the alien landscape unfolding as lines separate and open up pockets in this synth forest. The joy of exploration subsides, though, and "Miles De MIllones De Años" gives P.H.A. a chance to get a bit more experimental. Noisy bits of sytth are soon joined by a bouncy, bubbly bass line. The end gets a bit more majestic and spacey, but the bounce is just too much to overcome. In a time when John Carpenter has decided to finally record an album, it's no surprise to hear a track like "51º 18´15¨." The arpeggios and beat have that classic Carpenter vibe, and his influence is hard to overlook. "B​-​15​.​13´ Sobre Superficie" show P.H.A. returning to the synth driven experimental path. Brief but intriguing, this one starts, builds, and unwinds all in just over a minute. This quick blast is followed by the trancy "Bronce." Half muted drums get the body pulsing while combinations of synth drones and quickly moving highs make sure the limbs go akimbo. An unexpected dance track, sure, but a really entertaining piece of synthery. Keeping this fun, quick pace, "N.Av" strips back the dance level, and heads more toward exploring alien landscapes. A quick flyover shows the land below, and our spacecraft is the only thing keeping us safe from the strange formations below. Caves and lakes work in conjunction to form "Aguas Subterraneas." All aquatic, the blips and bloops of undersea activity are well mimicked with synths. Heading back to the quick, planetary exploration that P.H.A. has captured so well on this album, "Lineas Que Describen Cirulos" (related to Peder Mannerfelt?) moves with a great, enjoyable pace. At just over three minutes, it never has time to dull, and the head nodding never gets tiresome. Taking a step back in time, and fully embracing their analog routes, P.H.A. gives us the synth odyssey "CIII​.​Y​.​E37."  Sparse and spacey, this fun exploration into jovial meandering has the warmth of nostalgia as well as the coldness of new discovery. This is juxtaposed by the modern, bass heavy "Rocas Gravitando A La Deriva." Simple and effective, it plays as a nice finish to an album that mixes both spacey exploration and the excitement of contact.

 Poligono Hindu Astral's first full length is a great tribute to the "kosmische sound" of a bygone era. While not content to fully mimic, P.H.A. adds their own modern flair and creates an engaging piece of analog music. Some songs work better than others, sure, but all in all, 00110010 is a fun, synthy romp.

Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5

Paul Casey
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