Next Level Art-pop, Electronic Minimalism and Krautrock

Brooklyn’s Operator Music Band may be underrated, but they sure do have a big sound. Their Bandcamp page describes them as “shades of art-pop experimentalism and electronic minimalism” that blast through the genre of krautrock. By morphing classic and futuristic elements, the band has put together an EP worthy of praise with Coördination, the five-song collection that follows the Puzzlephonics I & II LP, from earlier this year.

The group have put together one of the strongest dance albums of 2017 — something to keep a party going while simultaneously making you feel pretty trippy. Experimentation on an album can be a challenge for some artists, but putting in the extra work to get the right sounds goes a long way. Here, there’s no question: Operator Music Band was able to produce the right sounds.

“Realistic Saturation” is just over three minutes of experimental catchiness, with invigorating aspects of psychedelia. The beginning draws you in, followed by a spoken word verse that somewhat sneaks up out of nowhere. The first chorus leaves the lyrics behind, but when the vocalist, Dara Hirsch, begins singing on the second verse, the song takes on a different feeling. Her vocals are comforting and light, her vocal presence inviting. Sprinkles of electronic, flute-like sounds add interesting textures to the background, nicely filling out the sound.

“Sunk” is a little slower than the opening track, but is still seductive with a good, haunting hook. The instrumental lasts for over a minute as the hype builds, until the anxiety finally bubbles over and Jared Hiller’s voice takes over. It’s a totally different vibe from to the last song, while still keeping the core elements that make Operator Music Band the trio that they are. The combination of the drums and bass line carries the song, creating an incredibly danceable track.

“Communicator 4” sets the stage with strong bass for the first 40 seconds, until the drums bring in the beat. With otherworldly guitar riffs, the song gradually becomes more experimental for a minute before racing to the finish line. The next song “Alarmed” opens like a powerhouse rock anthem, with strong guitar riffs and heavy bass chords. It’s easily a favorite from the EP, complete with punk and ’80s synth pop influences that work to perfection. The theme of detachment is heavy in each song, but especially takes precedence here. Three minutes isn’t enough for this song.

“Moto Komplete” starts off slow, building a lot of anticipation. It’s almost four minutes long, and the first truly lackluster track on Coördination. The vocals are barely above a mumble in the beginning, creating a strange, eerie vibe that lingers the entire song.

Operator Music Band creates the best kind of  ’80s dance pop, giving listeners the opportunity to really see what the group is all about. Krautrock lives on through this EP, and with few skippable songs it’s an EP that’s easy to lose yourself in. Each track has notable highs and lows, with endless synthesized funk that permeates the lyrics as well as the instrumentals themselves. Dreamy with the perfect aesthetic, everything about Coördination is strong enough to melt listeners’ hearts and minds.