Bruxas - Muscle Memory (2021)

Dutch psych-musicians Jacco Gardner and Nic Mauskovic create a new take on no-wave, post-disco with their debut LP as Bruxas, Muscle Memory. It’s their third work for the Dekmantel label, following up earlier EPs Mas Profundo (2017) and Sirocco (2018). Immersing themselves in a world of bohemian synth, the duo experiment with vintage machines and cosmic effects, swimming in rhythmic grooves and psychedelic tones. It’s a style that reflects their respective musical backgrounds, and long partnership, one in which that has strengthened their collaborative, musical muscle memory.

After playing together in the revival tour for Zamrock band WITCH, Gardner and Mauskovic struck up a partnership centred around poolside antics, cocktail hours, and a mutual love for late-60s, German kosmische musik. Through their particular style of alchemy, the duo embarked on a quest crafting soundtracks to imaginary forgotten moments.

‘Cógelo, Rápido’ a disco-noire thriller, ‘Mountain Cruise’ playing on an upbeat Jodorowsky beat, while ‘Minitrip’ takes the listener through new, psychedelic planes of existence. Unsurprising then that there is a little bit of Patrick Cowley in this record. A pioneer whose own Muscle Music soundtracks also lent themselves to leftfield synth explorations.

Outside of Bruxas, Gardner and Mauskovic have both found success with their respective careers. Gardner, with his unique take on baroque pop, and Mauskovic with his rhythmic post-punk group solo-project The Mauskovic Dance Band. Together as Bruxas, they found a synergy full of youthful exuberance, that looks to recapture a vintage left-of-center, wave-scene feel. Recorded on a minimalist setup, Muscle Memory is full of such improvisation and psychedelic sound experimentation, proving that with time the subconscious can take over, creating patterns within music that the conscious mind would have otherwise been unable to perform. What one would call, true Muscle Memory.