PIAS Vinyl & CDs

Review: Bohren and Der Club of Gore has always been one of Germany's most intriguing and out there bands - a group rooted in grindcore and doom metal whose hard-to-pigeonhole output draws on a myriad of intriguing influences outside those intense styles. "Patchouli Blue", their tenth studio set since forming in 1992, is another moody and atmospheric gem: a challenging and experimental set that pits angst-ridden guitar textures against hallucinatory, David Lynch style cinematic sounds, hypnotic electronics and smoky, off-kilter jazz expressions. It's not a great departure from their previous albums, but when your sound is so distinctive - and inspired for that matter - why tear up the (Patchouli) blueprint?