Artist: Moderat
Album: II
Label: Monkeytown
Release Date: 04/08/13
A washed out caricature stretches a pursed, grim mask down over their face. Although Moderat can be literally described as the collaborative efforts of Sascha Ring aka Apparat and Modeselektor's Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary, the trios second work - II - is more original genesis than artist merger.
If their first self-titled outing was an attempt to combine the sonic scopes of the two artists, the second is a melodic poppy exploration into an entirely new entity. Consciously shirking any past reverence to wanton sound-system destruction, II is composed of warm, glowing pieces closer to conventional songs then electronic 'tracks'. Apparat's smooth pitched vocals are present in almost every moment of the album, ranging from yearning heart-felt symphonics to clipped, vocoder huffs - so what then differentiates the work from the German's solo productions? Bronsert and Szary are virtuoso sculptors of studio drama. Decaying, bass-driven vibratos and electro pads lie entwined with ethereal timbres and black, creeping percussion found in the inky realms of Shed or Burial. Although most tracks could be accused of following a similar model, the incremental progression experienced within each is a beautifully crafted journey towards synthetic futurism.
Opening track The Mark, littered with dreamy field recordings and otherworldly whispers sets an intelligent tone before stand out Bad Kingdom begins with a recurring elephant trumpet and a razor sharp breakbeat loop. The current musical climate has seen to it that the word 'pop' sits as a near constantly negative descriptor: in this case pop is keenly accessible, immediately listenable and suitable for every waking moment. The semi-ambient ten-minute Milk is perhaps the most dance-orientated departure, mixing shuffling, erosive percussion with wandering sighs and mesmerising chords whilst Ilona most embodies the scuttling, darker side of the trios bass music influences.
II combines with exaggerated ease the most interesting elements of mainstream electronica. Semi-ambient rungs are nestled within dignified clacking interludes; key changes are perceptible yet subtle and the vocal led nature of the work - although slightly disconnected at times - means this is an album with definitive cross-over potential.
Tracklist:
01. The Mark (Interlude)
02. Bad Kingdom
03. Versions
04. Let in the Light
05. Milk
06. Therapy
07. Gita
08. Clouded (Interlude)
09. Ilona
10. Damage Done
11. This Time
