Zenial is Lukasz Szalankiewicz, often noted on these pages either solo or as part of NOR_POL or Banabila. His Foil Punk (ZOHARUM ZOHAR 337-2) may be his “cyberpunk” album, laced with certain personal ruminations on a dystopian future, but it’s hard to tell from the press release which (like many statements from this label) prefers to be allusive, suggestive, and cryptic rather than make direct communications about artistic intent. Elsewhere, we learn that Zenial has used ChatGPT to generate some sounds here, leading to a new credit role – “prompts” – for the composer. So perhaps the perils – or potential – for artificial intelligence is another strand to consider, as we examine the skeins of spider webs and digital snail trails.
On early spins I seemed to discern a lot more substance and ideas than I’m getting today, where Foil Punk seems very static, slow, and under-developed. Titles like ‘Access Granted’, ‘Deckard’ and ‘Upgrade’ confirm the science fiction android-type themes and cyber-hack subtexts, but the music doesn’t make enough of an effort to deliver, even on such commonplace ideas that have been part of the culture for decades. Regardless of the failures of individual tracks, the cumulative effect may convey some sense of the poor misplaced exiled traveller, utterly baffled by his cold futuristic surroundings; that’s one takeaway from the endless menacing droning electronics, and the cover art with its upside-down skyscrapers. (31/03/2025)