AGF are the initials of German artist Antye Greie-Fuchs, and this is her
solo debut. Best know for her work in the electronic/pop group Laub, Head
Slash Bauch finds Antye venturing off into a much darker musicality, weaving
a frightening collection of vignettes that crackle and break on the surface,
and have more in common with music concrete and laptop aesthetics than
ambient dance floor pop. Underneath the surface are layers of gothic
sounding drones that form ambient landscapes. Central to Head Slash Bauch,
and it most distinguishing characteristic, is Antye's vocals, which seem to
investigate the relationships between humans/machines, objects/feelings,
body/language. The cut-up and pasted method that they are presented in form
a dazzling mess, spitting out HTML code and the occasional reference to a
personal experience: "I showed you my..." All in her stark deadpan mechanical
execution, which ironically is the most touching element of the music, and
its saving grace. Over the course of these 22 tracks a good amount of the
familiar glitch ground is covered, but the introduction of vocals is such a
refreshing take on it, and the contrast of the two elements makes for
something entirely new and strangely beautiful, that you never really mind.
After a few listens, the depth and complexity of the record is
definitely well worth the wait.
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