Borngraber & Struver - Urlaub [M=Minimal]

A1 - Reise

B1 - Berlin Tribal Music

B2 - Dancing Queen


Having recently dropped that essential reissue of Conrad Schnitzler's Ballet Statique, M=minimal serve up a fresh set from modern day kraut standard-bearers Borngraber & Struver. "Kosmische" these days tends to be shorthand for fluffy synth ambience, but B&S invoke the more rhythmic, pulsation-prone practitioners of 70s German electronic music, and more power to 'em for it. 'Reise' is a hugely satisying 21st century update of Schnitzler et al's sleek machine minimalism, sweeping Blade Runner synths and dubbed-out piano chords underscored by a robust techno kick - building to a truly intense denoument ,you could see this jam going down a treat on the dancefloors of the world's deeper, darker club spots. 'Berlin Tribal Music' sounds like Neubauten and Swans soundtracking a Michael Mann chase scene, while 'Dancing Queen' is thumping, mid-paced disco-prog with an unbelievable thump, up-down arpeggios and swampy strings - wonderfully over-the-top, like Goblin if they'd made it in Hollywood. And with so many artists who share B&S's interests favouring a lo-fi idiom, it's refreshing to hear music so unashamedly crisp, full-bodied and frankly state-of-the-art in its production values.