Modeselektor, the project of British djs Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary,
became leading actors in the genre of progressive techno with the unorthodox
hybrids of Hello Mom (2005) and with
the simpler and wittier Happy Birthday (2007).
Moderat was a collaboration with Apparata
that yielded Moderat (Bpitch Control, 2009).
Monkeytown (2011) was still classy but a bit too serious for its own
sake, and not fully capable of amalgamating the centrifugal influences that
presumably inspired the ambient techno of Blue Clouds, the
poppy Green Light Go and the bouncing German Clap.
The album's one moment of genius comes with the
throbbing gothis atmosphere of Evil Twin.
Radiohead's Thom Yorke ruins Shipwreck but then redeems himself in This.
Monkeytown (2011) is a multi-dimensional crowd pleasure that forgets
the duo's roots in techno. If the rhythm is penalized by this strategy
(except in the funny ballet Blue Clouds),
songs like Shipwreck (with Thom Yorke imitating a soul diva) can
still shine thanks to the meticulous arrangements.
Atmospheric background music for late-night parties.