Pass Fail

Leander

Kennington Recordings

2008-03-31

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• (Reviewer)

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• (Member — 0 votes)

Recording as Leander, the Berlin-based Kranholdt brothers (Lars and Daniel) have absorbed some of the recent electronic musical heritage of their adopted home, but have eschewed the harsher electro influences of the likes of International DJ Gigolo records or the minimal techno released on Kompakt for a more Gallic turn. For starters the cover of their debut, Pass Fail, bears comparison to the hand drawn faces on Kitsune Records’ sleeves. Beyond the visual Leander have much in common with Air or Blue States, as they combine the electronic with the acoustic and dreamy vocals and guitars play alongside inventive electronics.

“Idaho” is a Warp Records-lullaby as ping pong beats scatter themselves around the quietly swelling strings of the chorus.  The instrumental “No League” recalls M83’s noir indietronica, though comes across as a little lightweight in comparison. “Forked” utilises a banjo, electronic insect chirps and an acoustic guitar to become a sad country strum that betrays its recording in a farmyard barn. 

They combine the electronic with the acoustic.

Pass Fail is full of Air-like pocket symphonies that display shades of the same colour, allowing the LP to sit happily as an entity. The well-crafted rhythm tracks, all pops, clicks and buzzes stand out, subtly, and approach a tinny, casio-organ funk on the lovely “Home”. But though competent, the vocals and other instrumentation (with a few exceptions) lack strong enough hooks and melodies to take Leander to another level, on this release anyhow.