Das Koolies
about the artist
"Further out than the work of their previous incarnation" – Electronic Sound
"Roaring with confidence" – Record Collector
"The quartet tap directly into Super Furry neo-kraut territory" – Uncut
"Sleek updates of their original orch-psych genius" – Mojo
Ones and zeroes as the fifth form of matter, tech bro's filthy lucre and the acid dream-like sequences of vintage Sesame Street pile up as the main preoccupations of Das Koolies as they release Masters Of Mankind. One more untethered, psych-techno cavalcade of beats-bound songwriting from their debut album, DK.01, the band, made up of four Super Furry Animals…
More"Further out than the work of their previous incarnation" – Electronic Sound
"Roaring with confidence" – Record Collector
"The quartet tap directly into Super Furry neo-kraut territory" – Uncut
"Sleek updates of their original orch-psych genius" – Mojo
Ones and zeroes as the fifth form of matter, tech bro's filthy lucre and the acid dream-like sequences of vintage Sesame Street pile up as the main preoccupations of Das Koolies as they release Masters Of Mankind. One more untethered, psych-techno cavalcade of beats-bound songwriting from their debut album, DK.01, the band, made up of four Super Furry Animals set the track free on the eve of their first UK tour in January 2024.
Set in motion by a Noam Chomsky book of the same name, a collection of essays cutting into the fabric of state power, the choral refrain of 'in God we trust' beats a provocative path towards a critique of finance systems, government and new columns of control born of technology. Giving in to emergent constructs of all-pervading tech influence, singing 'thank data if we must,' the band find the line from Super Furry Animals own danceable critiques of new world orders and extend it to meet Das Koolies' planet of exhilarating sonic turbulence.
Featuring rapper, Killa Kela, and its many, vibrant strands pulled together from fresh album recording sessions as well as ideas pulled from previously lost tapes, Masters Of Mankind existence also owes thanks to Michael Jackson's Thriller, Sly and The Family Stone and the Walt Kraemer-meets-The Pointer Sisters street smart soul splendour of Sesame Street's infamous pinball learn-to-count animation.
Das Koolies state of the track: "Masters Of Mankind is a black sheep, welcomed into the fold with open arms. Ideas that lived quietly with us until it was their time and new ideas that appear even more urgent to us as time races on. Money. Power. Data. All three. What will a world where bits outnumber atoms look like? Our great grandchildren might be the ones to find out."
For the first time since 2016, when they last performed as Super Furry Animals, Das Koolies head out to perform select dates across England, Scotland and Wales on their inaugural tour. Having meddled with fans' minds on a short run of Rough Trade instore appearances last autumn, in addition to their pet-scaring 6 Music live session with Marc Riley, the band capture that energy and start a new year with added momentum.
DK.01, an extended road trip through the band's disparate techno, pop, glam, krautrock and psych influences, which manifested as an adventurous double-album, also offered listeners the singles Best MIndf*ck Yet, Wired For Sound, Nuthin' Sandwich, Out Of This World, Pain Down The Drain and A Ride. In December, Das Koolies released their remix collaboration with the legendary DJ Krust, bringing both instrumental and vocal reworkings of the bombastic title track of their debut EP, The Condemned.
DK.01, hitting No.1 on the Official Indie Album Breakers Chart, was released in multiple physical formats, including Dinked collectors' edition recycled coloured vinyl with bonus 7," Bandcamp and Indies recycled coloured vinyl, black recycled double vinyl, CD, recycled cassette and digital.