Pluramon - The Monstrous Surplus

Pluramon is one of the many projects of German composer, electronic musician and producer Markus Schmickler, that has been active already since the nineties. The project that originally performed instrumental post-rock and whose early records featured none other than the legendary Jaki Liebezeit himself on drums, shifted direction into My Bloody Valentine influenced dream pop on the third album Dreams Top Rock. At the time when several electronic artists (M83, Ulrich Schnauss et al) adapted the haziness of textures as was the wont of shoegaze, such step seemed logical. On this album called The Monstrous Surplus the pop melodicism is at the fore as much as the druggy wall of sound from guitars and synths. Ergo, Pluramon has become a vehicle for the poppier ideas of Schmickler.

As on the previous album, American actress/vocalist Julee Cruise (of Twin Peaks fame) can be heard on vocals. Two additional female vocalists are also employed. Occasionally Schmickler himself sings too. Even though there's little that is strikingly new musically, The Monstrous Surplus nonetheless boosts an intimate, though often bleak ("Fresh Aufhebung") atmosphere and occasionally a memorable melody ("Turn In") that makes it a worthwhile listening.