Seconds into "Sins" and there's an immediate sense of atmospheric
urgency that lifts you off your feet and it's like you're floating on
air. It's not the smoothest transcendence when you consider the heavy bursts
of high tech hysteria synchronically disturbing the airwaves, but so
what? Life's all about adjustments right? "Maschine Zeit," has a very
polished Euro-flavor going for it on latest single "Gunman," which delves
deeper into electro-dance mix territory, shuffling quickly away from
the hulking industrialized adversary that remains lurking beneath the
surface.
From only the first couple of tracks, it's easy to get a read
on the heightened sense of spirit and groove these two master
technicians continue to create on this, their fourth LP. Even
after passing through a number of the other tracks, there's something
about "Gunman" that keeps drawing you back over and over in your mind,
before madness finally sets in and you're dusted before you've had a
chance to even settle in for the evening. The same goes for "Under Deck" and
that brothers-in-arms chorus! "Evening" is right where this music
belongs, whether exploring that long sought sense of oneness, welcoming
the dark and setting your spirit to flight as the beats emanate forth,
or the flashing lights and splendor of an all night London-town rave,
"Maschine Zeit" is night music for night people.
It would be easy to write off comparisons to the likes of KMFDM,
particularly during the
middle portion, so how about if we put it something like this? KMFDM's
primordial freeform meets with a smoothed over version of Rammstein and
Front 242's shadowy presence looming in the foreground. Orchestral
Maneuvers in the dark? Not quite. . .
The German duo, named for a close
friend's position as radio operator (which clears things right up) has,
with their latest, created a deft and driving force bent on surgically
precise grooves, intricate patterns and intense lyrical moments that
conjure up images of agony and ecstasy all in one incalculable listening
experience.
