ILLEGALE FARBEN • Monte Fiasko • LP

Rookie Records

Monte Fiasko, or the Summit of Catastrophe. The fourth album from Cologne's post-punkers ILLEGALE FARBEN sets a darkly compelling soundtrack to both the significant and minor crises in the personal and global spheres. The themes are as diverse as the sounds themselves, delving into loneliness, self-doubt, and resignation. Illegale Farben continues to eschew their playful side, maintaining a melancholic tone.

Adding a new dimension to Monte Fiasko are musical guests, including Stefanie Schrank from Locas in Love and Cecilia Boström from The Baboon Show, each featured in a song. Stylistically, the album is a daring mix of the post-punk vibes from the first two albums, the contemplative restraint of their last work, "unbedeutend ungenau," and captivating indie-rock. Always seasoned with a generous dose of NDW, whether in the music or the lyrics. This is an "album" in the classic sense, best enjoyed, of course, on vinyl.