Karl Mohr – The End of the Line

Issue 03

Interdimensional Industries

Discogs

Karl Mohr’s ‘The End of the Line’ suffers from a malady that
strikes too many albums. There is one really killer song on
the album, and then it falls flat. The opening song on the
CD, “Unidentified Flying Object” is a great song, with driving
chuggy guitars and dirgey drums leading the way backed by
well timed and nicely produced electronics. There is also a
German language version of the song here to close out the
CD, “AuBerirdisches Wesen, UFO”. It is an interesting way
to bring together the songs on the CD as an album. Many
bands have tried in the past to use the same keyboard line
or guitar riff in a number of songs to give their album a
cohesive theme and sound, and it works on albums like
Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’ and ‘The Downward Spiral’ by Nine
Inch Nails. Recording the same song in another language is
an intriguing idea, and it works well here, if only for the
break the second version of the track provides from the rest
of the CD.
The following songs are a strange mix of experimental
electronic instrumentals and poetry. In a way, ‘The End of
the Line’ reminds me of Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’, only much
more abstract and without the feeling of a cohesive concept
album. Some of the songs almost sound like pop songs,
such as “Kleines Feuerstuckchen”, though I really have no
idea what the song is about since I don’t speak German.
“Have You Seen My Rabbit?” stands out as a depressive
lullaby for Pugsley and Wednesday Addams. “Can Your
Remains Be Buried With Mine?”, which I assume to be the
ballad on the album, is more depressing than any song I
have ever heard, despite the circus-themed musical
instrumental in the middle of the song. It sounds like a
musical lobotomy, only with less energy.
“The End of the Line” is one of the strangest albums I
have ever listened to. Between the two versions of
“Unidentified Flying Object”, it’s just too slow and
depressing for my tastes. Don’t get me wrong, some of the
songs are not too bad. “Blown Away” is a pretty decent
song, with a bit of a Mazzy Star-esque shoe gazing quality
to it. It offers a bit of a break from the rest of the CD’s
depressive electro-goth dirge, as does “Rock and Roll
Robot” – a fairly good electronic track in the same vein as
Daft Punk’s ‘Homework’ album. Still, on this CD the bad
outweighs the good by at least a few pounds. – chris parasyte