Pas Musique - Come Follow Me (Robert L. Pepper)

The appropriately titled “Intro”, which kicks off Come Follow Me acts as a perfect mission statement for what’s to follow, perhaps even a warning to the musically faint-hearted; it’s squalling, industrial noise signalling that the commencement of anything but the usual mainstream sonic fare. But why would it be?Pas Musique is synonymous with pushing the boundaries of music, splicing noise with art, a song with sonic mayhem, and industrial sounds with infectious beats. In short, music that boldly goes…

Although citing such exploratory bands as Faust, Coil, Zoviet France and NEU! as influences in general, Robert L. Pepper has none other than the mercurial, industrial pop of Fad Gadget in mind as the musical benefactor for what is found here. And with the work of the late, great Frank Tovey to light his way, we find him making music that blends warped, 80’s inspired synth-pop and krautrock repetition with dissonance and digital distortion, space and sonic strangeness.

However, the new element here is the use of standard vocal styles rather than the more usual electronic vocalizations, a development which enables him to communicate more directly with the listener. And so we are treated to some poignant messages, not least from recent singles, “Too Civilized”, and the title track itself, which between them lift off the lid of progress to examine its darker underbelly.

The great thing about Pas Musique is the fleeting and ephemeral nature of the music. The band’s sound changes from album to album, it is unpredictable and always breaks new, forward-thinking ground, even when taking inspiration from the past.

None other than Omar Khayyám once wrote, “The moving finger writes; and, having writ, moves on,” Pas Musique makes music in exactly the same way.

Album order
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Too Civilized