Well, have The Sea And Cake and The Notwist recently released a joint instrumental album? Oh no noh! Instead, Leipzig-based guitarist and composer Markus Rom has released a new solo work, "As Late As Possible", under the alias of the same name.

"Weilheim or Chicago - the main thing is Saxony", you might think when listening to the album, echoing the wise words of the criminally underrated soccer philosopher Lothar M.. Or to put it another way: in his musical fusion cuisine, Rom is able to fuse post-rock, indietronica, lo-fi and ambient into such a delicious sonic fare that the origin of the individual stylistic elements doesn't really matter.

Whether noise sounds, floating guitar arpeggios or broken rhythms: In songs such as "Dog Years", "Loot" or "Dot", Rom consistently manages the balancing act between melodiousness and experimentation. At the same time, he demonstrates that melancholy and confidence are not opposites, but rather two sides of the same coin.

Luca Glenzer