A P E | M E N - ZERO EP (Self-Released)

Claiming to be from the “the post Iron Curtain fringes of the European Union,” Ape Men certainly produce an icy, detached brand of electronica indicative of the region. Formed in 2013, the band has just released their new EP, ZERO. Ape Men combine the repetitive synthpop of Neue Deutsche Welle artists like Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft with the sleazy guitars of Songs of Faith and Devotion era Depeche Mode. The five songs are all danceable in varying degrees, but Ape Men are too moody and introspective to really fit into the mold of the faceless dance music that is Europop.

The guitars on songs like “Pictionary” and “Bye-Bye Devil” are so fuzzed out and distorted, they essentially act like an analogue simulacrum of the synthesizers they’re simultaneously paired with. The vocals lack the range or emotion of someone like Dave Gahan, but they do have that same sort of moody, strutting confidence. The most “dance-y” song here “Cash,” shows moments of slick pop, but it’s far too sinister and often veers into more Industrial territory, even verging on Darkwave at times. Undoubtedly, the strangest and most surreal song here is the EP closer, “Zero,” which is like some bizarre version of disco in a shadowy, alternate universe. Ape Men’s Zero EP is a completely unique and captivating listen.