Skinnerbox - Anapol

Skinnerbox
Anapol
B-Pitch Control

Israeili Iftah Gabbai and Berliner Olaf Hilgenfeld make up the production duo, or perhaps we should call them two-man band, known as Skinnerbox. These purveyors of disco infused techno have been wooing Berlin for several years now with their unique and infectious live act. They’ve come a long way since they first stepped out [in a park], armed with a Minimoog, a guitar amp and a laptop. Now firm fixtures on the city’s electronic scene, they have more recently moved in to studio production. However, they have maintained their playful DIY approach music and instruments, which has kept them sounding refreshing and original, as you can hear on their latest release Anapol, out on B-Pitch Control.

Track 1, Purgatory Five, starts off with a lilting Indian-influenced percussive melody, before dissolving into a chaotic string crescendo, rather like a bad primary school orchestra. Then, a powerful kick drum paves the way for more melodious sounds, which thankfully dominate the rest of track. The introduction of a beautiful and haunting female vocal completes the whole, with the overall effect feeling rather like Mercury Rev on acid. Sit back in a comfy chair, close your eyes and drift off, but don’t get too relaxed, as those same violins do make a reappearance at the end, their job being to wrap up the track nicely.

With its funky bassline and a high end dominated by the kind of fat sounds you’d expect from the Minimoog, Anapol, the second track on this release, has 80’s cop show written all over it. When a set of arpeggios come in early on, it’s a great opportunity to hear the call and response method Skinnerbox use for improvising and writing music. Not wanting to make things too easy for us though, they keep us on our toes with a tangent around the middle, but it’s a pleasant one: replete with twisted and mutated synth sounds. Balance is restored nicely at the end however, when all these different elements are combined together, making a pleasing whole.

The final track on the vinyl release, Not In The Mood For Love, is pure 80’s booty disco. At the start the pitch is bent up and up, making the modulated sounds resemble a plane taking off. Then, after a brief interlude provided by some baroque-like harpsichord, it drops into a groove which remains for most of this track. With several hooks layered over each other, short sharp synth notes, kick drum and gentle percussion, this is a rolling groover with a slightly more traditional dance music feel accompanied by a deep, sexy male voice throughout.

The digital-only bonus, Illustrated Blowjob-Guide For Intermediates, bounces along with juicy synth hooks over a contrasting background of dreamy arpeggios. 80’s funk is very prevalent again, keeping the track light-hearted. Things get shaken up later on though, when a sampled female vocal comes in the final couple of minutes. Loaded with emotion and soul, it changes the whole feel, taking us in a different direction, but without disorientating us.

Skinnerbox have proved yet again that electronic music does not have to be predictable to work. The music on Anapol is playful and inventive, yet packed with nods and winks to our wider music heritage, for those in the know. However, it remains very accessible, thanks to the luscious and often mischievous groove throughout. This EP should bring a smile to lips and swing to the hips, of all who listen to it.

Leah Thomas

Tracklist: Anapol
01. Purgatory Five
02. Anapol
03. Not In The Mood For Love
04. Illustrated Blowjob-Guide For Intermediates