The gloom-house of most Dial releases is in full-effect, with a healthy dose of click thrown in on the newest release from Denis Karimani. Karimani is a player in the Cologne scene, although he rarely seems to get his records out in bulk–one 12″ on Areal, Trapez, Dial, and Italic each. It’s hard to believe, as “War Es Nicht” is an incredibly self-assured slab of wax that moves from some abstract beginnings into a full-fledged banger by its end, all the while remaining defiantly catchy. The B-side opener “Pedestrian” is just that, but “Wahrheit” finishes up the 12″ nicely with a blossoming hook that never changes except in volume, eventually making its way to the forefront of the song.

Dial / dial 22
[Todd Burns]