London-based electro-industrial outfit Pink Panther Project return with ‘The Black Bloc Song‘, their latest single from their second full-length album, Clinics And Models, out now via the Assur Anshar label and distributed worldwide by Rune SerpentEuropa/The Circle Music.
Clinics And Models showcases Pink Panther Project‘s evolving vision, sound design, and storytelling. Tracks like the candid ‘Burn This Deep’ address the psychological effects of the internet, while the impactful ‘Sex Dreams’ and ‘Soldaten’ – A stark, militant anti-war anthem – highlight the band’s range. ‘Read, Repeat, Forget’ stands out as a sophisticated EBM piece, critiquing functional illiteracy within an infectious groove. The album explores experimental territory with ‘Open A Clinic In Japan’, a slow, hypnotic journey featuring modern-oriental psychedelia, before transitioning to the hammering intensity of ‘The Worm’. While ‘White Mood’ offers rhythmic relief before ‘Black Pink Panthers’ revisits the band’s core identity with spectral electronics and a sensual vocal performance.
‘Après-midi Paranoïaque’ is an ironically cheerful song that conceals unsettling French lyrics beneath its whimsical delivery and was their previous single – The track highlights the band’s penchant for dark humour and their ability to blend playful melodies with a distinctly sinister undercurrent. The new video adds a visual layer to this unsettling juxtaposition.
The ten track new album demonstrates a significant advancement in the band’s production and creative depth, as also evidenced in the single ‘Soldaten‘.
‘Soldaten’ is a stark, militant anti-war anthem that highlights the band’s range and their ability to tackle impactful themes. The track’s pounding rhythm and commanding vocals create a powerful and unsettling atmosphere, showcasing a darker, more aggressive side of the band.
Among the band’s previous singles, most recently was ‘Open A Clinic In Japan‘, the album’s most experimental offering: a slow, hypnotic journey drenched in modern-oriental psychedelia. It creates a twilight zone of sound, simultaneously gentle and disorienting, showcasing the band’s willingness to explore diverse sonic landscapes.
It followed swiftly on from the single ‘Black Pink Panthers’ that revisits the band’s core identity with spectral electronics and a captivatingly sensual vocal performance, offering a compelling insight into the album’s overall sound.
The first single from the album was ‘Under The Ash’ that established an immediate, gripping tone for the album; a cold yet catchy electro-ballad that captivates with its icy chorus. This powerful opener precedes an album that is darker, sharper, and more assured than their debut, while maintaining the seductive, techno-oriented electro aesthetic Pink Panther Project is known for. The influence of Mike Oldfield is evoked through ethereal vocals and compelling electronic textures, creating a uniquely unsettling and engaging atmosphere.
A limited edition CD release is restricted to just 500 copies and can be ordered here.
You can stream the singles here.