AUA’s second album, “The Damaged Organ”, explores in depth the concept of alienation. While the duo’s songs approach this topic with introspection (‘I am a stranger to body’) as well as a sociological perspective (‘I am alien to this world’), to a certain extent the album is also a story of a search for identity: ‘Who am I and how do I fit into this world?’ Musically, this is reflected in a space that seems more boundless than AUA’s 2020 debut, “I Don’t Want It Darker”. New possibilities open up. There is more at stake.
All the more astonishing that this multifaceted work was once again recorded in DIY fashion. Before production started, Fabian Bremer and Henrik Eichmann went hunting for strange and unusual electronic instruments, seeking inspiration and new sounds which would expand upon AUA’s already eclectic mix of explosive Motorik beats, Carpenter-esque arpeggios, and surf guitars.
Throughout “The Damaged Organ” Bremer and Eichmann play virtually every instrument while taking turns on vocals. “Islands Song” also features Annika Henderson (Anika, Exploded View), whose voice adds a unique element to the otherworldly nature of the track, the modulating synthetic melodies of which bring Mort Garson’s “Plantasia” to mind.
All songs written, performed and recorded by Fabian Bremer and Henrik Eichmann. Lyrics and vocal line for “Islands Song” written by Annika Henderson. Mixed by Henrik Eichmann and Fabian Bremer. Mastered by Philipp Welsing at Original Mastering. Artwork by Mihailo Kalabić. Typography by Fabian Bremer.
