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The Robocop Kraus — Smile
(Tapete TR 530, 2023, CD)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2023-07-16

Smile Cover art

The Robocop Kraus is another new band to me, even though they formed back in 1998 in Herzbruck, Germany. Their new album Smile is their first album in fifteen years. Obviously not a prolific band, but one that still explores New Wave and Post Punk music that has been often cited as Germany’s answer to The Make Up, Franz Ferdinand, Talking Heads, The Rapture, Devo, and so on. Smile is a collection of thirteen songs that do bring a smile to your face. The album opens with “Young Man,” that sounds like a version of the early The Who jamming with Killing Joke for a powerful kickstart to the album. The second song, “Innocent Fun,” is another great track with a galloping beat that is pure innocent fun. Then they veer off into MOR New Wave disco with “On Repeat,” “Giant of Love,” “World / Inferno,” “Cannonball,” and their song about an encounter with a metal band on a train, “Cradle of Filth.” These songs are reminiscent of Wang Chung and other 80s pop New Wave bands. The Robocop Kraus is best when they blow out the dust from their amps for some more powerhouse tunes like “Under Control,” ”Savages,” and the closing “The Foul Stench of Our Time,” where they channel Gang of Four and Killing Joke. I’m not sure that I agree with all the hype on the promo material — Smile is a mixed bag of songs, some that connect, and others that don’t. But if you hunger for 80s and 90s New Wave, you may find enjoyment with Smile.

Filed under: New releases, 2023 releases

Related artist(s): The Robocop Kraus

More info
http://therobocopkraus.bandcamp.com/album/smile

 

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