Tarwater

Old-school German electronic music. Probably the best of its kind.

The students in question are Tarwater, the Berlin duo who, with their latest work "Inside the Ships", return to the international scene: the ensuing tour arrives in Italy and runs the length of the country from north to south, from Turin to Catania.

Stopping off in Pisa, or more precisely at the Caracol, Bernd and Roland leave glitter and sequins to others, focusing here on the essentials: a stripped-down set sees the two protagonists on stage in grey and black, bathed in diffuse red light, with an unmistakable whiff of the GDR.

The gear is of the vintage kind, the sort that lends nostalgia a positive spin: drum machine and bass on one side, sampler, synthesizer and voice on the other.

The intimacy of the venue provides the ideal backdrop for the chamber electronics that Tarwater serve up, drawing on their eclectic blend of post-rock and indietronica: particular attention in the setlist is naturally paid to their latest release and to the evergreen "The Needle Was Travelling", a gem within their vast body of work.

The forerunners of Lali Puna, Postal Service & co. know how to lull the audience with a swaying cadence that invites reflection, cradling the mind in a typically German sound and relaxing the body, priming it for listening: a biting voice, warm bass, melancholic synth and unobtrusive rhythms weave together a rich cohesion.

While the performance leaves the palate satisfied, the clock is certainly left a little disappointed, given the somewhat stretched total running time: what lingers is the aftertaste of a fine vintage wine, a shame it was only half a litre.

Ride the wave of great music

Add OndaRock to your favorite sources on Google Discover. Don't miss our reviews, milestones and latest news straight in your feed.

Follow on Google