Arno De Cea & The Clockwork Wizards - Retrofuturisme Volume I & II CD (Otitis Media)
One of the most powerful surf/instro combos in France, heck, let’s just say all of Europe, has put together this CD containing nearly all of the tracks from the Retrofuturisme I & 2 albums. You get a hefty dose of blistering, mind-scorching set of tunes - 21 tracks in all! I think a fair number of people would listen to their music and say they sound like Man Or Astroman?, which is definitely a fair point. The punk energy, the guitar sound, riffs and melodies are all fairly similar. As much as many love MOA? though, I will say that Arno De Cea has songs that have a bit more craft to them - they aren’t as reliant on finding a good riff and just hammering away at it. You also won’t hear as many samples, and the songs don’t rely on a “schtick”. This album has a variety and depth that is almost like an aural adventure - that is further enhanced by the use of sounds and instrumentation beyond just guitar, bass and drums.
Tracks: Science et Resistance - V Pour Vortex - Vers I' Infini et Au-Dela - Rupture Continuum Espace Temps - Et Vint La Nuit - For Those Who Don't Care About Time - Monorail - The Clock Crusher - Trompe la Mort - Presence du Futur - Souvenirs Du Futur - Flux Stellaire - The Moon Harbour Blues - Bronzage Désintégral - Maï Taïson - Traqué Par Le Temps, Sauvé Par L'Espace - Saturne = Hula Hoop Éternel - Maelström Chromatique - Au Regard Des Probabilités Exponentielles - Au Sud-Ouest De Nulle Part - The Song That Wouldn't Die (Bonus Track)