Sangue Puro [by Les Georges Leningrad, CD, 2006]

Always working at the extremes, les Georges Leningrad staked their banner at the far edge of dance music, reclaiming the region for the post-punk movement. The group continue to proudly wear many o... more

Always working at the extremes, les Georges Leningrad staked their banner at the far edge of dance music, reclaiming the region for the post-punk movement. The group continue to proudly wear many of their influences on their sleeves: Siouxsie the Banshees, Fad Gadget, Wire, very early Human League, and the Slits among them. However, with Sangue Puro the trio delve much deeper into experimental sounds, losing their flair for danceable rhythms at points along the way. The electro-experimental title track, for instance, eventually includes drum patterns, a four-on-the-floor which shifts into repeated drum rolls; even the Pop Group had more danceable rhythms than this. Its title, "Sangue Puro," translates from the Italian as "pure blood," and perhaps les Georges are making the point that they've evolving into a purer art-fired unit. The final track, "The Future for Less," an even more experimental piece that pushes into Throbbing Gristle territory but minus the proto-industrial feel of that group, seems to confirm that.However, "Skulls in the Closet" dispels that theory, a pure old-school, post-punk, dance monster that sounds like the ****** child of the Banshees and the Fad Gads. "Scissorhands" has an old-school feel too, but its rhythm, fueled by a funky, fuzzed, faux bassline, is built in thoroughly modern terms. "Sleek Answer" is even funkier post-punk hip-hop for the mod generation. All those tracks are electro based, numbers like "Ennio Morricone," "Mammal Beats," and "M... less