Ever been in the situation where you've heard something a thousand times before but can't put your finger on when or where? So the next time your ears are treated to said listening pleasure it actually resembles nothing else on earth?
If so, then you'll know what I mean when I say Les Georges Leningrad fit that description like a ready warmed and lubricated glove. Their squalling punk-funk synthed up collage of everything really doesn't conform to any known genre or style. In fact, at times one wonders whether they quite know themselves what they're doing, as on the surely-they're-only-tuning-up-aren't-they? screech of 'St Mary's Memorial Hall' or the push button, have sound weirdness of 'Umiarjuaq'.
When they do construct a song however Les Georges Leningrad can be an entirely different proposition altogether. The bass heavy 'Pekin Pekin' sounds like Le Tigre being put through the Mad Professor's speakers. Backwards. Similarly the electro-punk throb of 'Sponsorships' and raucous stomp of 'Black Eskimo' sound like a high street collision between Peaches and Sonic Youth. Meanwhile, 'Fifi F.' and 'Nebraska's Valentine' are pulsating death disco floor shakers at their finest and 'Wunderkind #2' has the feel of Nation Of Ulysses rearranging nursery rhymes with the Giraffe toy orchestra.
By the end of it all you'll either love it or hate it in equal measures, but one thing's for sure - deja vu has never sounded so fresh, invigorating and utterly perplexing at the same time.
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7Dom Gourlay's Score