Von Sudenfed - Tromatic Reflexxions

There's something missing from Tromatic Reflexxions, the collaborative effort between Mouse On Mars and Fall 'singer' Mark E Smith that promised so much. Perhaps it's unfair that, in LCD Soundsystem, we already have a blueprint of what an electronic Fall album should sound like in 2007, but that doesn't explain the disappointment. The problem is two-fold: firstly, Smith's vocals are often so indecipherable that he may as well be yelling "Tim-may!" for all that he communicates; secondly, the Germans beats, bounces and bulging basslines are, with a few exceptions, just bland. As a combination it leaves little for the listener to take – no emotional switch, no adrenalin rush, no substance for all its evident style. There are tracks here ripe for a good remix, with glimmers of co-operative compatability apparent in Duckrog and The Rhinohead especially – but the bulk is destined for trendy brown bars, and boredom. [Ally Brown]