ALBUM REVIEW: Unbändige Kinder – Konstant

Post-punk duo KONSTANT are poised to release their debut record Unbändige Kinder. The pair of Angelo Repetto and Nicolas Balmer are heavily inspired by music movements within not just post-punk, but kraut and new wave, and after years of being in the local music scene separately, they are ready to come together to “create their own language.”

The album itself is meant to describe “the rawness of our time”, which they seemingly represent by recording live and in one take, given that the listener can occasionally hear audience applause. Unbändige Kinder opens with Feuer, a track that uses electronic synths and sound effects that sound almost sci-fi adjacent, further pushed by the dark, spoken word vocals. The full band comes in over a minute in, performing in a drum and bass style in a way that feels incredibly raw.

The entire record can be summed up with one word: interesting. Whilst it might be hard to differentiate each song when thinking back on it, it’s still a good experience and you find yourself somewhat entranced. What makes the experience more unique is the incorporation of dark pop that helps to create a scene in your head of an underground nightclub with low beats and pulsing bodies.

The tracks, at minimum, go on for six minutes, with the longest song, Mädchen, clocking it at 11 minutes in length. It’s interesting in that the songs feel long, yet they don’t at the same time. You can find yourself zoning out, but rather than it being out of boredom or being disinterested, you find yourself between a state of calm and being motivated to do something productive.

Even though the songs seemingly fall into a repetitive formula, you can’t help but be drawn in. This record has the band playing drum and bass style music in a way that feels very raw, maybe because it was recorded live and in one take, interspersed with dark pop and electronic sound effects and spoken word again and again. Yet it never gets boring.

Unbändige Kinder might not be the most energetic or standout record of the year, yet you will still find yourself appreciating and enjoying the experience. Plus, if there’s a task or chore you need to get done, you’ve officially found something to get you in the zone.

Rating: 7/10

Unbändige Kinder is set for release on September 27th via Subject To Restrictions Discs.

Follow KONSTANT on Bandcamp.