Darkwave pioneers Pink Turns Blue shows clarity on ‘Tainted’ album
Iconic post-punk / darkwave outfit Pink Turns Blue has released their new ‘Tainted’ album via Orden Records, a fantastic and well thought-out record that adds an electronic element to their classical vocals, guitar, bass and drums.
With all the negative things that have happened in this past year and a half ridden with lockdowns, at least one thing has turned out. This new album was written, recorded, mixed and mastered in their Berlin recording studio. And a wonderful achievement this album is, with so many tracks that could be stand alone singles. In fact, four of them were. Just a few weeks ago, the band revealed their new video for ‘Not Even Trying’, a lament for a wasting planet, on the trail of singles ‘You Still Mean Too Much To Me’, ‘There Must Be So Much More’ and ‘So Why Not Save The World’.
Today Pink Turns Blue is a trio consisting of Mic Jogwer (vocals, guitar), Reubi Walter (bass, keyboards) and Paul Richter (drums). In the first generation of gothic rock, Pink Turns Blue formed in 1985, originally as a duo consisting of Jogwer and Thomas Elbern, plus a drum machine. Naming themselves after a Hüsker Dü song, their sound was initially inspired by The Chameleons, Clan of Xymox, and The Cure.
Jogwer had this to say about the new album:
“The foundation of this new album was our world tour 2018-2020. Many new artists and groups referred to us as their idols for the “deep and atmospheric sound” we created in the late eighties. Before, we had difficulties connecting with or appreciating support bands or other young bands at genre festivals because to us they often sounded too much like their heroes. But in the last few years a new generation of bands came onto the scene. Bands like Soviet Soviet, Lebanon Hanover, The Soft Moon. They seem to have the depth and the dimension of many of the 80s post punk bands but with new sounds, new ideas and really good songs. Also there are quite a few cool New Wave / Post Punk Bands happening like Motorama, Human Tetris and a few more bands that we met and liked a lot.
So, after touring the world, we wanted to write songs that still were very much Pink Turns Blue but also covered topics of today’s world, like ‘future angst’, mistrust in corporations and government. So the new album is more influenced by modern acts that combine electronics (beat box, synths, electric pianos, dancefloor) with real bass guitar, drums, guitars.
About half of the songs are about things that concern all of us: climate change, inequality, concerns about the future, overpopulation, the pandemic and its consequences on our social and cultural life. The other half is about how to find your way or place as an individual or as a couple in this new world un-order.
The album title relates to the state of our world: climate change, its effects, the reaction to it, the split within society, isolation, health risks and financial uncertainty. The world has lost its innocence, well, definitely its optimism. It is very difficult to “party” now. Everything that was fun before the pandemic seems to be tainted now. There seems to be a sticky dust cover on everything.”
On October 1, the ‘Tainted’ LP will be released digitally across digital platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. Black vinyl, strictly limited to 500 copies and with an 8-page booklet, will be released on October 29. CDs, which come with a 16-page booklet, are available now – both these and vinyl can be ordered exclusively via the band’s website.
CREDITS
© 2021 ORDEN Publishing
(p) 2021 ORDEN Records
Music & words by Mic Jogwer
Performed by Pink Turns Blue
Mic Jogwer (vocals & guitars)
Ruebi Walter (bass)
Paul Richter (drums)
Photos by Daniela Vorndran
Article’s band photo by D. Vorndran
Pink Turns Blue on the net
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