Much like dub, the blueprint behind Krautrock is so simple and resolute that any artists dabbling in this '70s German genre are routinely thrown into the same pile. But considering Urban Homes almost wholly utilize driving, pulsing rhythms, along with the fact that they're actually German, it's nearly impossible for the quartet to escape the K catagory. On »Centres«, the Colognians' first LP (following their cassette-only debut), Urban Homes craft gorgeous, crisp groove meditations that fall squarely between jagged indie rock, early day electronic music and Euro-espoused Afrobeat. All of »Centres«'s five tracks feel more sprawling and epic than their six- and seven-minute run times suggest, a testament to the band's propensity to unfurl so many musical ideas (African chants, NYC sax soothers, with vocals that drift in and out, sans agenda) into such tightly structured beat pieces. »Centres« demonstrates a band skilfully taking familiar pieces and crafting a wholly original collage from them.
(Independent)Urban Homes
»Centres«
BY Daniel SylvesterPublished Mar 19, 2013