Building Castles Out of Matchsticks "Then YOU must be an Android!"
Worthy Records

a smorgasborg of styles, from future pop dance music for replicants to introspective rainy day bedsit musing music.

Building Castles Out of Matchsticks return with "Then YOU must be an android!", a powerful collection of beat- and glitch-driven electronics matched with the emotionality that Anne Sulikowski's work has become so well known for.

Opening with the title track, Anne and guest Scott Johnson create a percussion based groove matched with smooth and haunting vocal stylings. A blend of human and electronic influences that's a stunning and sexy way to start the disc.

"I've Got a Camera" continues in a similar vein, a haunting vocal sliding through shifting drum patterns of increasing complexity and style slowly descending into a chaotic whirl of noise. Something very dark and ominous about this track, a feeling of film noir voyeurism and rainy nighttime secrets kept under a pre-post future shock post modern New York City skyline. Brilliant.

"Fixed" follows, a collaboration between Anne and Davin Chong, her musical partner in Swimming Against the Moments. It's a rotating drone based piece building in intensity and tension. High pitched whistles and tones play throughout adding to the atmosphere, adding a sense of disturbance to the track.

"Now wait for last year....." closes the disc, a repeated melody playing through a huge drum filled cavern eventually giving way to minimalist calm and tranquility. A stunningly powerful piece, a marvel of simplicity that leaves me in awe. Wonderful work.

Needless to say, Anne has done it again, releasing a disc that perfectly captures the sounds of lonely hearts spending Saturday nights alone at home toying with electric friends.

"You're beautiful..." he said as she looked up with a clockwork smile. "Beautiful."

rik - ping things