VITAL WEEKLY no.681/ - NL

PNDC & HOUSEWORK SECONDHAND LANGUAGE /Ammonite/

The music of Predrag Nedic, known as PNDC was a pleasant surprise back in Vital Weekly 616, not because he had the most original sound in the world, but his 'Fading Away' release was a nice break in all the hiss and buzz of Vital Weekly. Back then I didn't use the word unVital, but the music had not much to do with our daily digest of disturbances. Present in some ways on 'Fading Away' a greek singer called Housework, known as Thanos Vavaroutas to his friends. The prolific Nedic also works as Keep Away From Heat, but that's a more synth / techno pop inspired band. 'Secondhand Language' is his second full length as PNDC and now Housework gets full credit too. If I understand correctly they exchange sound files over the internet and do not meet up in the studio. That's something we hardly could hear on this release and that also goes for this new release. Vocals and instruments seem to be in perfect harmony. The music is still a fine blend of new wave with a love of the somewhat darker undercurrents. Its one man new wave, as lots comes out of boxes, rhythm machines, sound effects and on top guitars and the vocals of Housework. In the long 'The Fix' the darkness reaches a peak with a film noir like soundtrack, and that's a thread that goes through almost the entire album. A great album, once again, but maybe it should be more poplength, say thirty-five minutes, with just the very songs of it. No potential hit material here either, so it doesn't fulfill its pop sensitives just yet. But that may come, due time.

Frans deWaard