Peter Kernel
White Death Black Heart

Despite the name suggesting a computer nerd, the Peter Kernel are a Swiss-Canadian combo on their second full-length album.

In between a couple of EPs and a single, each conceived to highlight one of the many attributes of the group: noise overall, a lover of occasional experimentation, but with a post-punk soul that holds everything together. The record seems to me to be a great manifesto of what the three are capable of: tracks that recall the Sonic Youth of the '90s without sounding like the usual clones, very cool crossovers between male and female voices, pop reminiscences of the best Blonde Redhead (something the same Redhead can no longer do, see Hello My Friend which would fit well on In An Expression…), indie tensions in the style of Wolf Parade, with whom they have also shared the stage (listen to I'll Die Rich At Your Funeral), which perhaps come to mind because of Aris's voice (also on guitar), episodes like Tide's High, a brief avant-rock interlude, the anthem Panico! This Is Love, the pure noise that winks at Thurston Moore of The Peaceful, the summation of all their passions in Make, Love, Choose, Take.

Much more than a beginner's guide for beardless hipsters, White Death Black Heart is truly a great album that takes up the discourse of Deerhoof (who haven't made a good album for a while) refreshing it with a lot of inventiveness and a healthy pop touch. Some tracks can be listened to here  thanks to the label Africantape which once again discovers interesting and promising bands.