Zurich-based JPTR is a hybrid. What appears to be one is actually two, a third if you factor in other components and what you hear can even be a masking of sorts. Comprised of KIU and IKARU,the group, which stresses the visual emphasis just as much as the sonic one, operate in the form of a collective pushing the boundaries of art. Nothing could be more evident than their self-titled debut LP.
Musically JPTR flows in the manner of avant-garde pop, using drums and vocals as the weight of the tracks. Whilst it would be easy to assume that their sound is sparse, it’s actually the opposite. In fact, the first song ‘Europa’ paints an accurate picture of the road in which they musically travel, orchestrating multiple drum patterns like five instruments in itself whilst chants of “Let me in, bones and skin” provide a stance of the title. ‘Master Babe’, which does indeed highlight aspects of minimalism, is spacious with purpose as the theme of masturbation is delivered in a sultry and seductive manner courtesy of the lush vocals of KIU (Andrina Bollinger). Where the group meet at the lines of conducted chaos with intent to shake things up are with tracks like ‘Jesus Christ’ in which the drumming becomes thunderous pounds whilst KIU spills lyrics like “lick my cunt consumption, just do it” and “fuck your angry bird gunshots”. ‘Motherland’ continues to stretch the limits of experimentalism with abstract sound design incorporated in the production. ‘Boyfriend’ leans more in the vein of somewhat a traditional pop recording with it’s catchy and playful rhythm but then it’s back to drum alchemy business with ‘Revolution’. The final song on the album entitled ‘Attack’ finds singer KIU playing with skittering vocals, growls and everything in between.
Similar to artists such as Jenny Hval, JPTR have found themselves reeling in performance art and an untraditionalism into the world of pop music. Like an acquired taste, when it finally hits you, it becomes one of the most interesting and unique experiences ever.
JPTR is out April 7 via Mouthwatering Records.