Pouppée Fabrikk - The Dirt

Swedish group Pouppée Fabrikk are now, the quartet of Leif Holm (Machines), Henrik Björkk (voice), Christian R (machines) and Jonas Aneheim (machines/guitar) and have been releasing music in one incarnation or another since 1988. With four albums in as many years to 1994 another two in 1988 and 1999, five singles and appearances on 15 odd compilation albums, 2013's 'The Dirt' is the latest release.

"Bring Back The Ways of Old" starts this album off and gives you the idea of where it will take you and remind you of the the bands of that EBM era. The likes of Front 242, Die Krupps, D.A.F., Cabaret Voltaire and Nitzer Ebb can be heard throughout this album no doubt because Pouppée Fabrikk started not long after those bands. The music is familiar, comforting and consistent to that era of EBM and still unique enough to not feel like you are listening to a 90's tribute band.

Even with 11 tracks running at just over 40 minutes, this album doesn't feel as short as it is because of the punch in the face you get with nearly every track. Henrik's vocals are angry and he's pissed and he's going to tell you why and what you should do about it and in the end just how he feels about it all. No need for long running diatribes of lyrics over sweeping strings. Here's your bass, here's your beats, here's your melodies now shut the fuck up, listen and dance!

This is the first time I've listened to Pouppée Fabrikk and I really enjoyed the short sharp no nonsense harsher vocal edge of their songs. I've known and played and loved the bands mentioned previously in this review for a long time and that's why I like 'The Dirt'. It takes me back, but does so in a way that's current. Pouppée Fabrikk will get some of my money because this album has made me want to back and see what they did on the last six releases. Aug 12 2013