Pavor [LP]

Edgar debuts on Dark Entries with Pavor, an 11 track LP of sleazy disco, warped synthpop, and gothic cumbia. Veteran musician Luis Gutierrez has spent the past two decades touring in bands, running Lalalandia Studio, and building his practice in Oakland and Guadalajara. But now, for his first solo outing, he has become Edgar, a pop star who knows no limits! ""Edgar feels mightier than anyone but is always reduced to his vices"" says Gutierrez, and Pavor delivers vices in spades. From the opening salvos of ""Otra Agua,"" it's clear we're in for a wild ride: seasick synths slide along slamming disco beats, menacingly chanted vocals sit amid a flurry of careening horror movie samples. The mischief does not abate as we're guided through a demented funhouse of genre detournements. Edgar puts his indelible fingerprints over every inch of this vinyl, from uptempo numbers like the spooky chip-tune frenzy of ""Nunca Mas"" to the twisted cumbia of ""Panteon."" We're even treated to a fairly faithful (and majestic) Spanish-language cover of Amanda Lear's ""Follow Me,"" here titled ""Sigueme."" EBM, space disco, and horror movie soundtracks all find their way into the mix on Pavor, but the diverse palette comes together perfectly, like a Yello album for the 21st century. Pavor comes housed in a sleeve designed by Eloise Shir-Juen Leigh and features a photograph by Izaak Schlossman. Also included is an insert with lyrics and notes. On Pavor, Edgar brings us a healthy dose of pure excess, reminding us that dread can be a hell of a lot of fun.