The Oakland/LA label Kill Shaman Records presents some far out drift with the release of the debut self-titled LP from Heimat. Featuring two label alumni, the French musicians Olivier Demeaux of Cheveu and Armellie Oberle of The Dreams, Heimat promises “afro-beat rhythms, cinematic soundscapes, and post-punk aggression”. On “Trocadero” and “So Traurig“, the pair explore haunting synth and drum machine driven soundscapes with Oberle’s strident vocals leading the charge. “Trocadero” employs brooding strings over a driving beat, while “So Traurig”‘s minimal arrangement of rusted bells chime with an icy menace. Throughout the two tracks, Oberle’s commanding and melancholy voice sets an eerie mood, with the choice to sing in German further refracting the cultural implications of this project in intriguing ways. Throw on top of the release an amazing album cover by Russian outsider artist Alexander Lobanov, and you’ve got one of the most interesting albums of 2016 so far!
