Thursday, June 21, 2012

Prophet O’Haphazard: Cabaret Nostalgia EP

Here is the obscure second release from the somber German singer Prophet O’Haphazard, called Cabaret Nostalgia.I originally thought O'Haphazard was a girl, but it was actually the pseudonym of one  Oliver Gerling). His debut EP  - which is a must-have for underground synth fans - can be found on Capa Nostra Syndicate and is highly recommended.. The record’s album title gives a hint of what is in store on this record – gothic cabaret music mixes seamlessly with electronics and effected guitars and O’Haphazard’s wonderfully sullen, deadpan voice. At times his forceful but somewhat feminine voice recalls early efforts by contemporary artists like Molly Nilsson and Zola Jesus, but he’s less poppy than the former and more dynamic than the latter.
You and Me Covered in Silence plods along like gyspsy funeral parlor music, while Sum Up To Suicide is a beautiful mesh of aching synth strings, stabs of guitars and sparse drumming that sums up to one of the most bleak songs ever. Side B kicks off with Prophet O’Haphazard proving his bona fides with an excellent cover of Thomas Leer and Robert Rental’s Monochrome Days. Magic Mushroom Kingdom starts off aimlessly before it turns into perhaps the first gothic minimal synth-psych song, sort of like Astaron mashed up with Red Temple Spirits. Sadly, despite being about a Mushroom Kingdom, it does not mention Mario or Luigi at all.
Finally the album ends with a reprise of a song from her debut EP, Till I Hate You. Fittingly, this song is called Till I Hate You 2. You know, in case you weren’t sure he hated you the first time he sang it… well, he still does. Interestingly, while the title implies that it will be a bitter tirade against a lover who wronged him, it’s actually a slow, melancholy track with lyrics that drip with thoughts of heartache while the music retains an almost sweet hopelessness.

Prophet O’Haphazard: Cabaret Nostalgia EP
1989, Minstrel Records
A1                           Moon Over A Town And A Yellow Flowerfield Behind
A2                           You And Me Covered In Silence              
A3                           Sum Up To Suicid
B1                           Monochrome Days
B2                           Magic Mushroom Meadow       
B3                           ´Till I Hate You ´2

Click here to get it!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Interesting. Never heard of this one even in Germany. But this can't be a woman! Everything hints to Prophet O'Haphazard is no one but Oliver Gerling. Anyway, covering "Monochrome Days" (a not too bad version) shows excellent taste!

goutroy said...

Huh! It looks like you are right, Olkskool; I saw the photos on both EPs that show a pretty convinging girl, and did not even think otherwise!

lacomunidaddelperpetuosocorro said...

thnaks alot!

lacomunidaddelperpetuosocorro said...

thanks a lot