Gettner, “Introvert” – review
Gettner is a project that has been present on the Polish scene for a long time; his track was the opening track of the second edition of the Halotan Sounds compilation almost a decade ago. During this long period of time, Jacek Gettner’s music has not undergone any fundamental changes; we are still dealing with a rather old-fashioned approach to dark electro, industrial and EBM. It is worth mentioning, however, that in spite of its long existence, ‘Introvert’ is only the second release of the project.
The album contains no less than fourteen tracks, all of which are characterised by the dirty, industrial atmosphere of music from the late 1980s and early 1990s. I dare say they are even less sterile than Gettner’s first tracks. Fading Lights”, for example, is a track that evokes two names in particular: Front Line Assembly and Leaether Strip. The former association is more obvious here because of the vocoded vocals, but the drum sound and the dense atmosphere are reminiscent of Claus’ sensational EP ‘Science for the Satanic CItizen’. It’s a shame that the Dane has already given up such a dirty sound for good. Especially when it comes to drums and percussion. “No Choice” is another non-instrumental track. This one is much more danceable. The acid synth lines are reminiscent of Velvet Acid Christ.
I don’t belong here”, with a rather simple but catchy melodic line, is probably the best track. The vocal arrangement, extremely raw but still understandable, is very reminiscent of ‘Japanese Bodnies’. The melodic mood is maintained by ‘Cogs in the Scheme’, which even sounds a bit …. future pop and may appeal to fans of Assemblage 23 (the vocals are a bit reminiscent of Tom Shear’s sound from the time of ‘Contempt’). Of the instrumental tracks, the very danceable ‘Invasion V.2’ or the steady, funeral-like ‘The Holodomor’ stand out, which so effectively evokes the spirit of the first Suicide Commando or Wumpscut albums (old-school lead sound).
The album is pretty evenly balanced in terms of quality, although for some listeners the length of the album may be a minor drawback. For others, it might be a plus. An opportunity to immerse themselves in Gettner’s ghostly tales and treat the whole thing as a soundtrack or an engaging DJ set. It’s just a shame that the artist is reluctant to use his own vocals, which only appear on a few tracks. I really like the old-school vibe that comes through. Whether Vomito Negro, FLA or the aforementioned Leather Strip, fans of these projects should check out ‘Introvert’.
The album is available on the artist’s Bandcamp:
https://gettner.bandcamp.com/album/i-n-t-r-o-v-e-r-t
