{"product_id":"under-pressure-1","title":"Under Pressure","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhat others call a \"band\", \u003cstrong\u003eVon Spar\u003c\/strong\u003e see as a modular system. The creative community of Sebastian Blume, Jan Philipp Janzen, Christopher Marquez, and Phillip Tielsch is in a state of constant flux. \u003cstrong\u003eVon Spar\u003c\/strong\u003e is an interface, providing access to rediscovery and fresh experience of, to all intents and purposes, the familiar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eUnder Pressure\u003c\/em\u003e is their fifth album, not counting their homage to Can (recorded live with Stephen Malkmus). 15 years have passed since their debut \u003cem\u003eDie Uneingeschränkte Freiheit der Privaten Initiative\u003c\/em\u003e, five since the \u003cem\u003eStreetlife\u003c\/em\u003e album. On closer examination, there is a somewhat chameleon-esque quality to \u003cstrong\u003eVon Spar\u003c\/strong\u003e's discography. Their records are the result of continuous metamorphosis, opening wormholes to post-punk, krautrock, and 80s art pop. The constants: rhythmic refinement and harmonic quantum leaps, swirling synthesizer arpeggios, backwards guitars with no hint of retrogradation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe eight songs on \u003cem\u003eUnder Pressure\u003c\/em\u003e were recorded in \u003cstrong\u003eVon Spar\u003c\/strong\u003e's Dumbo Studio in Cologne, with guests from Toronto, Tokyo, New York, London, and Nashville adding noteworthy contributions. As on \u003cem\u003eStreetlife\u003c\/em\u003e, the formative voice belongs to Chris A. Cummings alias Marker Starling. His distinctive falsetto graces over half of the songs, asking: \"\u003cem\u003eIs there a cure for this \/ Unhappiness, happiness?\u003c\/em\u003e\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOn the opening track, Cummings is joined by Eiko Ishibashi (Kafka's Ibiki, Jim O'Rourke, Merzbow) in a Japanese dream sequence exploring where they might get to if the shackles of the flesh are cast off. Punk and reggae professor Vivien Goldman (The Flying Lizards) picks up the thread and liberates herself from the ghosts of the past on \"\u003cem\u003eBoyfriends (Dead Or Alive)\u003c\/em\u003e\". Lætitia Sadier (Stereolab) sings on the album's kraut-pop hit \"\u003cem\u003eExtend The Song\u003c\/em\u003e\" which could run and run forever, powered by motoric energy: \"\u003cem\u003eIf someone would ask me \/ Could I go on?\u003c\/em\u003e\" Less answers, more questions - this is the song's greatest leitmotif.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt is left to low-fi maverick R. Stevie Moore (he of 400 albums) to pose the question on \"\u003cem\u003eFalsetto Giuseppe, Should I Worry?\u003c\/em\u003e\" Of course!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bureau B","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50472255881547,"sku":"1060709","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50472256405835,"sku":"1060710","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/81f6ee0e-a0d6-4615-983e-3e266d1bcfd3_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727420766","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/products\/under-pressure-1","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}