With Robert Görl’s immaculate drumming and a looped Korg bassline chugging along under xylophone- and brass-phrases, as Gabi Delgado practically chants the lyrics, this is classic DAF. Organic, rather than mechanical, Goldenes Spielzug is minimalist proto-techno charged with unreleased tension and the slightest hint of menace.
Track of the Day
Not well enough known outside of their native Sweden, GarboSTHLM are one of those bands who make exquisite pop that reminds you of the best bits of Duran Duran and Ultravox. They recently warmed-up for Visage in Stockholm, and this new release will keep the 80s vibe going.
Machinista are on an upwards path. The Swedish duo of Richard Flow (ex-Vision Talk) and John Lindqwister (ex-Cat Rapes Dog) are making a name for themselves with a sophisticated, dancefloor-friendly form of synthpop. This track shows off their sleek sound and Lindqwister’s terrific vocals, with some help from a celestial choir.
Duet Emmo was a collaboration between Daniel Miller of Mute Records and Graham Lewis and Bruce Gilbert of Dome. One of the most beautiful and haunting tracks ever made, it freezes the feeling of 1982 in 12 inches of vinyl. Lewis and Gilbert’s own post-Wire experimental work was extraordinary in its own right, but when the synthetic expertise and detuned sounds of Miller are added, the result is much more than the sum of its parts.
Formed by some young lads training for a career in kitchens or catering, and named for a device used to scientifically ration out food, Portion Control were one of the electronic world’s true originals. Here, they keep the colonels from power in what they call The Great Divide…