An album with Prommer & Barck sounds like a wet dream come true for fans of modern and eclectic Jazz, House and Electronica. Their joint résumé sounds like an encyclopedia of good taste; Alex Barck is the founder and member of Jazzanova and Sonar Kollektiv, while Christian Prommer is the multitalented member of Voom:Voom, Trüby Trio, Fauna Flash and his own Drumlesson. Their collaborative project features both producers on vocals, and guests including Dollkraut, Kim Sanders, James Teej, Eva Milner (Hundreds), and Sascha Gottschalk (Thief). Alex & The Grizzly is the first release on their newly found label Derwin Recordings, a sublabel of Compost.

Beautiful opener “Pictures Of The Sea” introduces you to Barck’s vocals; he channels Depeche Mode on the beach with a German accent, and halfway through it turns orchestral and Balearic, with female operatic vocals, horns and acoustic guitars. 8 minutes of mad bliss. “Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde” is a percussive and moody track with David Byrne-esque vocals – dark and dynamic, filled with reverb. “Everything” opens calm with some finger picking  and turns into jazzy house with soulful vocals over a 4/4 beat and bouncy bass. “Gladys Knight” has theatrical David Bowie-like vocals chanting something like “We will not be satisfied with you, if you do not dance with all my troupe,” all over a dubby beat with Oldskool Piano House riffs, almost like a slowed down Tribal House track. “Soweto Symphony” is a highlight of the album; transcendental and progressive, dark and light – with strings and angelic vocals, as if 4hero met The Knife in purgatory. Another highlight is “Sleeping Beauty” a beautiful fusion of chamber jazz, sensitive pop vocals and a deep pulsating bass. Like the ocean tide breeze running through the beach grass.

Prommer & Barck has managed to craft a hypnotizing record, filled with beauty and plenty of moods and hybrid sounds. It’s organic and electronic, both compact and orchestral with an untraditional build – the tracks has a nonlinear feel. Alex & The Grizzly is filled with Intelligent leftfield music. Their musicianship goes hand in hand with their 20 years of DJ experience, and their live shows will soon be travelling across Europe.

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