Đăng Khoa - Khoa đăng
Đăng Khoa is an experimental music collective from Vietnam. Their latest EP, Khoa đăng, is an even greater venture into the noise-rock category than their debut, albeit inconsistent.
The incorporation of glitch and drone go a long way in differentiating Khoa đăng from the competition. Mở mỡ is driven by its ambience, rather than its industrial elements, yet intertwines them spectacularly. As a result, the piece is soothing, yet constantly engaging. Lả lơi chơi, in contrast, is far more untethered. Its repetition is hypnotic, and its soundscape unique. Sounds of foley and presumably fumbling within a bucket make most of the track, while its elements are bizarrely synthesised and remodelled. Ba phát dương is a nightmare at the office; mouse clicks are smothered in a surreal blend of delirious acoustic strings and maniacal synths. The same ideas progress into Má thu âm; a song that starts in typical kraut-rock fashion with a progressive blend of samples à la Faust’s self-titled. Buried deep in its mix is Chocolate Girl by Animal Collective and Bardo Pond’s Back Porch tying it all together. Unfortunately, the song is obnoxiously long and baron of fresh ideas. The track alone undoes the solid work of the first half of Khoa đăng. While Ợ’s abrasive textures are delightful, I wouldn’t blame one for stopping their listen halfway through the album.
It's a shame, because unlike An Atom's Den, Khoa đăng’s sound design is starkly unique. A true step-up in the composition department. The artist should have simply waited till they had more material, as opposed to cluttering the track listing with the fluffy track Má thu âm. Everything else is solid and comes with an enthusiastic recommendation.
Good
Listen to it here:
Đăng Khoa - Khoa đăng
