Moderat is the pairing of German wunderkinds Modeselektor and Apparat. Following up 2009’s self-titled debut they triumphantly return with another superb slice of electronic virtuosity. II made the Top Ten in their home country, and it’s not hard to understand why. The two acts have fused their sound into an even more cohesive symbiosis. The heavy electro breaks and freaked-out analogue funk of the Modeselektor boys is perfectly tempered by the soft touch and melodic strains of Apparat aka Sascha Ring, who really comes into his own here with some strong vocal performances.
The mighty Bad Kingdom gets the album off to a storming start, all breaks and bluster, before Ring’s vocal comes in over the top, fitting perfectly, lifting the track. The moody, rumbling, dubstep of Versions is offset by its successor, the majestic, shimmering Let In The Light – its pitched down vocals giving it a hazy, loved-up, house vibe. The centrepiece, Milk, clocks in at 10 minutes and is a slow burner featuring a building, repetitive, rhythmic, throbbing beat in the vein of The Chemical Brothers.
Damage Done is another soaring, potential anthem that bubbles beneath the surface without ever exploding and This Time is the gorgeous, melancholic closer – stuttering beats surf pulsing waves of synths before gliding down gently to a twinkling halt. Undoubtedly one of the best electronic LPs of the year.
ALFRED GORMAN
