Mouse on Mars - Varcharz

Mouse on Mars were exponents of the clunky, found-sound approach favoured by Folktronica artists before the neologism was even coined, but in preparation for 'Varcharz,' the Berlin duo seem to have spent more time polishing their Warp and Rephlex vinyls and peeking over Kid 606's shoulder than they have spent sampling the sound their marimba makes when they hit it with a coconut. A reflection of their tough, sinewy live sets, there are flashes here of bass-led crunk-house and startled, scribbled-over drum and bass that keep MoM firmly in the experimental noise camp, while anchoring the listener in a miasma of reflected dancefloor glory. Refusing to be confined to mere electro and breakbeat sounds, there are also stomping live drums and distorted guitars that wouldn't sound out of place on a NIN album, and moments of total sonic weirdness that still sound booty-shaking, despite being unclassifiable. A little too like its influences in places, but a strong showing from the Dusseldorf pioneers. [Bram Gieben]