Album Details

• Artist: Kreidler
• Album: Tank
• Label: Bureau B
• Year of Release: 2011
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2011-03-01

The minimalist, tribal ambient drums of "New Earth, the opening song on the latest by Germany's Kreidler," might have you believing you've stumbled onto a cold, stiff dance record in which dancing is impossible. But there is much more to "Tank" than meets the ear at first blush. Though the second song, "Evil Love," merely builds off the opener with a few added colors, but the other four songs do provide moments of variety and surprise.

The drums and the rhythms become more insistent and hypnotic on "Jaguar," while "Gas Giant" and "Kremlin Rules," while maintaining the overall icy vibe of the record, do have more of an edgy, if simple groove. The effect is a kind of demo version of classic Krautrock, but without the psych and complete satisfaction that those bands delivered. Still, Kreidler stick to their formula, and by the end of the set you know you have a heard a band tinkering with and expanding a developing, signature sound.

Kreidler can't help but be compared to some of their countrymen, and though there are elements of Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream on "Tank," Kreidler's version of cold majestic electronica doesn't measure up to those legends. But what does? On its own terms, this is a record that builds gingerly off of one or two pulses and occasionally hits a good stride where the theme and variations approach is compelling.

User Reviews and Comments