De Staat release their fourth album Vinticious Versions this month and with it maybe the most original album of 2014. The Dutch five piece have released something here which defies the idea of even trying to pigeon hole them into any genre and in no way is that a bad thing. It shows how open the music world and especially the alternative side of music can be to creating something new, obscure and at times bat-shit crazy.
It is almost impossible to compare this album to anyone else out there. Opening track ‘Get It Together’ has some crazy sort of late sixties sexy jazz party vibe, complimented by clean guitars and a lo-fi vocal. ‘Build That, Buy That’ is like a version of Beck at his strangest. All plinking keys, cocktail party harmonies and polka beats and then you get a track like ‘Input Source Select’ which comes across like early Beastie Boys. Albeit with added jazz flute.
This is leftfield, lo-fi, Dutch avant-garde at it’s very finest (that’s right we just invented a new genre). Strange yet oddly satisfying. It’s one of those albums that are very easy to get lost in. Whilst listening to Vincticious Versions it was left on constant repeat and at no point did we grow bored. Surely that is a sign that this is a strong record. It is just so unique and after yet another listen through and getting dragged into the upstrokes and off beat of the track ‘Sweatshop’, this could actually be the sexiest album of the year.
Quirky, sexy, unpredictable, hypnotic this album is all this and much more. Forget genres and go in with an open mind and an open set of ears and you will treat yourself to something truly special. We dare you to try and not get lost in that groove and madness.
