• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
  • Contact us
  • Guest Content
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Elevenses
  • Business
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Property
  • JOBS
  • All
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Sport
    • Tech/Auto
    • Lifestyle
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Set For Life
      • Thunderball
      • EuroMillions
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Entertainment Music

Review: Brodka – Clashes

By Grant Bailey (@GrantDBailey) Monika Brodka’s fourth full-length is a smoky and weirdly-caustic mix of offbeat pop. The Polish pop star has taken a snaking route from her discovery on Polish Pop Idol 12 years ago, and while third album Granda really delivered the first, unadulterated shot of weirdness that Brodka had to offer, Clashes […]

Grant Bailey by Grant Bailey
2016-05-24 15:57
in Music
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

By Grant Bailey (@GrantDBailey)

Monika Brodka’s fourth full-length is a smoky and weirdly-caustic mix of offbeat pop. The Polish pop star has taken a snaking route from her discovery on Polish Pop Idol 12 years ago, and while third album Granda really delivered the first, unadulterated shot of weirdness that Brodka had to offer, Clashes feels like a refinement of that identity to a honed point.

In ‘Horses’ we have the first example of smouldering, galloping pop in the mould of Kate Bush and Suzanne Vega, given a modern splice through climbing melodies. ‘Can’t Wait For War’ is a morbid march of horns and syncopated bass; a captivating greyscale of cold, militaristic morality. The coupling of this track with the archaic instrumentation of ‘Holy Holes’ meanwhile give Clashes a unique sonic texture, adding greater depth than the straight-up pop release it sometimes masquerades as. Whether this is an appreciation of Poland’s musical heritage or the product of experimentation (or both) is anyone’s guess, but the results are low-slung, murky and intriguing.

Monika’s vocal performance is as impressive as ever. The coarseness of her upper range gives the lullaby qualities of ‘Mirror Mirror’ and ‘Haiti’ a mature edge, at once urgent and reticent, adding to her mystery. ‘My Name Is Youth’ is the oddest child in a collection of oddballs, a garage-rock stomper as Brodka steps into her Karen O catsuit. Endlessly-escalating, with an ending so abrupt you’ll question whether the track has skipped, this is Monika playing at punk, and it works. The lyricism of these tracks is noteworthy for its vivid imagery, especially given that this is Brodka’s first album written in a second language.

Purposefully directionless, surprising if not always on its mark, Clashes will be a curiosity for some and an obsession for others. Brodka is oscillating on her own bizarre frequency.

RelatedPosts

Bob Vylan responds to critics following Glastonbury controversy

Review: End of the Road festival ✩✩✩✩✩

Katie Hopkins labels Sam Smith a ‘dirty, disgusting, chronically ill guy’ in brutal rant

Sam Smith called ‘demonic’ and ‘evil’ by woman in street attack

Tags: featured

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Commercial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

← Where’s The Gherkin Lurkin In This Visual Puzzle ← Bingo Is Back Baby
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

-->