GLEN – I Can See No Evil (2023)
Artist: GLEN
Album: I Can See No Evil
Genre: Art Rock, Avant Rock, Krautrock
Label: Falling Elevators
Year Of Release: 2023
Quality: FLAC (tracks)
Tracklist:
01. Paradigma 6:45
02. Anthem 5:24
03. Polymorphine 8:18
04. Neos Kosmos 10:41
05. In The Midday Sun (Extended Version) 10:09
06. Strike 6:20
Personnel:
Wilhelm Stegmeier: guitars, baritone guitar synthesizers, piano, organ, percussion, voice
Eleni Ampelakiotou: guitars
Roland Double Feinaeugle: bass
Lucia Martinez: drums Paradigma (left side), Anthem, Neos Kosmos, In The Midday Sun
Achim Faerber: drums Paradigma (right side), Polymorphine, Strike, additional Percussion on Strike
Jeff Hermanson: fluegelhorn, trumpet on Neos Kosmos
.. to perceive evil where it exists is, in my opinion, a form of optimism.
– Roberto Rossellini
GLEN, the Berlin/Athens based instrumental unit release their third album under the ambiguous title I CAN SEE NO EVIL referring to the concept of evil that has become prominent not only in the usual demonizing fictional, religious and moral framings, but more so in political contexts especially when the fragility of civilization is challenged. A closer look could expose the cracks, injustice, disintegration, exploitation and decline of modern societies caused by political and financial ecosystems who benefit from it, but it seems more suitable to blame the divided nature of the human animal in general, to cover up that in every willful act there is a choice, decision and responsibility.
Like the little monkey staring at us from the front cover with eyes wide open that do not know where to look, all words that were spoken seem not enough to get anything said, heard and done, to acknowledge the suffering of many under the power of a few.
Following up their promising previous second album PULL! (2021), pursuing an abrasive reductionism, merging contrasting textures to a unique narration of swelling chords, melodic patterns and abstract noise, GLEN sets with focused energetic turmoil their mark on the map of instrumental elegies.
The six tracks build upon each other like a subtle evolving guitar sculpted monument, turning the screw tighter, enhanced with alluring piano, organ and synths, until its final explosive climax on the B-side`s final track.
Like the previous album, I CAN SEE NO EVIL was mixed by producer legend MACK, who started his career in Giorgio Moroder ́s Musicland Studios, working with bands like Marc Bolan ́s T. Rex, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, early Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Sparks, etc. and produced some of Queen ́s most acclaimed albums.
Despite of the dystopian background of the album, each track shines in lucid clarity and transparency with uplifting bright optimism that is not blind but in full awareness of the urgency of unrest and a look beyond the pixeled grid.
