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Elektroklänge — Motorik
(Bandcamp Alfa Matrix AM1335, 2024, CD / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2025-02-08

Motorik Cover art

I’ve lost track of how many artists we’ve reviewed here on Exposé whose music is based on the Berlin School of electronics, taking after Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze. Elektroklänge, on the other hand, is more oriented towards Düsseldorf, Kraftwerk specifically. 50 years on from the ground-breaking Autobahn, this Swedish duo has released an album of ten tracks firmly in that tradition. In fact, there are very few times when a listener will be reminded that this isn’t lost Kraftwerk music from the 70s. All the hallmarks are here: minimal drum machine beats, pulsing synthesizer sequences, electronic voices, swirling filter sweeps. The occasional appearance of a piano is the sole outlier. Music that hews this closely to its influences walks a thin line between slavish imitation on one side and honest inspiration on the other, and most likely some listeners will lean towards one side and some towards the other. I rather like Motorik, finding the songs interesting enough to have value beyond proving that Kraftwerk can be emulated effectively. This is electronic music that hearkens back to simpler times, before thudding 808 drum machines took over and EDM rave-ups became de rigeur. Is this original? Certainly not, but it’s kind of like sonic comfort food — you don’t want something new, you want a familiar taste that you love.

Filed under: New releases, 2024 releases

Related artist(s): Elektroklänge

More info
http://alfamatrix.bandcamp.com/album/motorik

 

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