MOTOR!K

Since their debut album from 2019, the Belgian modern Dark Krautrock band Motor!k neatly releases a full length album every year on the Out Of Line label… Ok, given the pandemic it remained quiet in 2021 but this was more or less compensated by the (fine) EP Odyssey released on the Ant Zen label as an extra and also as a precursor to a more adventurous sound. We can say that this line continued with Motor!k 3 (still their best output) and now again with Motor!k 4…

Where Motor!k's first album was a solid representation of the sound and modus operandi, being the Krautrock sound and the 4/4 drum beat known from Can and NEU! provided with a contemporary look, Motor!k 2 confirmed the intention of the trio D'Hollander / Dobbeleire / Ivens… and this with an already advanced approach. As said, the real change came with the EP Oddyssey and the album Motor!k 3, which made the undersigned look forward to the next move…

The basis is by now generally known (and you have supporters and opponents of this), but also on this 4th album Motor!k goes a step further in exploring the possibilities. The material on Mk.3 seemed like a clear choice of variety on one album. Mk.4 changes it again by opting for 2 (sounds wonderfully pretentious to write it) suites that relate to each other like brother and sister. In the first part (called the A-side in vinyl jargon) we find the 3 parts of Terra Illustris, where the sound indeed sounds a bit lighter and more psychedelic. And as befits a good suite, the piece can preferably be listened to in one go, with minimal attention to the transitions. Terra Obscura sounds a bit darker (Obscura, you know) and heavier-handed, which makes it a bit of the favourite half of this album. No problem if it is different for you…

So it can be that simple and successful… This concept-like approach does not cover up a lack of creative inspiration because after Mk.3 this is now my favourite Motor!k album, thanks to the variety in the compositions that still combine 2 beautiful and corresponding integers.

The Illustris / Obscura theme is also continued in the artwork for the cover, by Wim Christiaens (unsurpassed creative power as organizer of the better truly alternative parties inside and outside the scene, also life partner of Wendy Mulders aka ONRUST). When ONRUST opened for Motor!k in 2022, when they presented their EP Odyssey in TRIX, Christiaens was inspired enough for a moment by the minimalist beauty of the overhead lighting to take a photo of it with his smartphone. He was a little surprised when Motor!k, after posting on social media, asked to use the photo for the cover of their next album. When you look at the cover you will soon notice why the gentlemen of Motor!k saw this photo as a suitable visual presentation of what they intended to do with this album. Sometimes it just fits together nicely…!

With this 4th album, the trio has once again proven that the bag of tricks is far from empty. Wondering which direction the ball will bounce next time…

Jan DENOLET
26/07/2023