It was hard to know whether to take Univore seriously, judging by their somewhat exuberant press release. Does anyone need an album which celebrates “the confluence of apocalyptic imagery and the expected human responses of preparation, celebration, and defiance to the end of the world” or need a cover of the two musicians in daft blonde wigs, for that matter? Well, we have these elements anyway but a more meaningful description of their output would be subtle indie-dance.
The Chicago-based duo of David Bachmann and Nicholas Flandro may be able to express dry wit on paper but it’s their music which shines the brightest. ‘Humanity Family’, for instance, may feature the kind of digitised vocals we’d normally expect to find on anonymous DJ projects but the space-disco backing track and languid rhythms add touches of class which tells us something more edifying is going on in the arrangements to match their literary skills. ‘Lay The Hands’ is propelled by chugging rhythms but the distinctly European vocals suggests a German synthpop act on an IDM trip. Full marks too for the final two tracks: the lilting instrumental ‘Ice Trust’ and wistful closer ‘Victory Days (Victory Ways)’.
Make no mistake, there’s a strong emphasis of fun on show as you might expect for an album entitled ‘Beasts From A Silk Womb’. Yet more importantly, there’s also a sense that Bachmann and Flandro are two guys with their finger on the pulse where infectious, electronic music is concerned.
Web Sites:
Univore Official Site
Bandcamp Stream of Univore’s ‘Beasts From A Silk Womb’
Further Listening:
Grand National
Leonard's Lair Music Reviews 
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