Hailing from Poznań, Poland, the British-Polish multi-instrumentalist Vincenzo Wieczerzynski is poised to make a significantiimpact on the international synth music scene with his latest project, Chaos International. Wieczerzynski, firmly rooted in punk principles, brings a unique authenticity by using hand-played analogue electronic instruments, perfectly capturing that icy 80s cold wave synth sound.
Fresh from performing in Poland alongside the renowned Dark Wave band Clan Of Xymox, supporting Harsh Symmetry on their European tour, and engaging in collaborations with Lebanon Hanover, Wieczerzynski’s talent is obvious, with a promising career on the horizon. In fact, Chaos International already feels like it is well at home among a venerable lineup of Minimal Synth/Wave icons, both contemporary and classic, such as Absolute Body Control, Turquoise Days, Linear Movement, and Fad Gadget.
The project’s debut, a demo cassette EP, comes wrapped in artwork by Jean Lorenzo of Silent Em, with an inner photograph captured by Polar Noire. The EP has been meticulously mastered by Dea Hydra of Luminance. This exclusive release, accompanied by an A4 poster, is limited to a mere 50 copies. It is available through Die Blinden Records, a branch of the revered Belgian event organizers, Waveteef.
The opening track, Running, heavily channels Fad Gadget with its repetitive, minimal synth, droll vocals, and buzzy industrial effects. It sounds like a more introspective, retro, and almost 8-bit version of the kind of synthscapes explored by his contemporaries, setting the tone for the rest of the record that feels a weekend lost in a whirl of cathode rays and button mashing.
This vibe continues with the metallic vibration in Provos’ intro, a track with a dark, avant-garde edge and a spacey synth pad melody. The distressed vocals add a dramatic layer, resulting in a haunting yet danceable track.
A Deathly Hunger For War once again resonates with the spirit and political consciousness of Fad Gadget, delivering a poignant critique of global political maneuvers through various periods. This engaging protest anthem stands out with its distinctive lo-fi home recording essence, complemented by lyrics that nod respectfully to the D-Beat trailblazers, Discharge.
Four White Walls dips its toes into the chilling pool of minimalism, with its shadow-lurking sound and vocals that sound like they’re bargaining with the boogeyman—smells like early Depeche Mode spirit with that Tora! Tora! Tora! vibe from Speak and Spell, making you wonder if your speakers are haunted. Terms & Demands keeps the tempo anxious and danceable, channeling that unmistakable 80s Belgian beat. Then there’s The Garden, where the vocals float like a spectre in a misty soundscape.
New Direction throws a curveball with its poppy New Wave flair, sprinkled with the sounds of a factory during an alien invasion, while altogether feeling like the recreation of saturated Kodachrome-hued celluloid memories of several 80s sci-fi fantasy epic films left unmade. And just when you think you’ve heard it all, Culture struts in with a guitar riff straight out of a spaghetti western, layered over with ethereal vocals, a dash of industrial grit, and synths that sound like they’re beaming you up, all keeping pace with that insistent backbeat. It’s like Clint Eastwood in space boots—bizarrely delightful and oddly dance-worthy.
Listen to the Chaos International EP below, and purchase it digitally here:
S/T EP by Chaos International
Vincenzo Wieczerzynski’s foray into minimal electronics through Chaos International builds on his established musical background. His earlier project, Transfigure, garnered considerable attention across Europe, highlighted by an extensive tour that featured performances supporting Blancmange in the UK. His work, which has been showcased by labels such as Bordello A Parigi and Wool E Tapes, adds to a growing and influential discography.
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