Maschinentanz is the second album for this German-quartet, and one that features a dozen-tracks, with five being sung in German, and done so with something of a rough male vocal delivery that combines with a blend of melodic pop-based electronics, and largely structured up-tempo EBM rhythms for a brand of hard-edged Body Pop that falls somewhere between fellow Germans Welle:Erdball, and above all And One, such is the similar to And One, its almost difficult to tell them apart at times, least not on the albums excellent title track which is one of the highlights, with its male German-vocals and extended intro building into a strong mid-paced track with a good chorus, while equally of note is the steady up-tempo beat of Dirty Pop, with further strong echoes of And One present, all do, lyrically, it could be far better, while the hard crashing mid-paced rhythms of Heal Me build well to another good chorus, and excellent track with the more Synth Pop like vocals standing out. Further to this, there is the extended intro of Angels; its twisting mid-paced rhythms build to another strong chorus which features the addition of female backing-vocals, while the stomping, swaggering mid-paced rhythms and German-vocals of Humanoid has something of Depeche Mode’s Personal Jesus to it, along with a very And One feel. Further tracks of note include the more EBM edge of the strong and solid Kreuzritter with its German-vocals, and its steady up-tempo beat leading into a strong chorus, and the somewhat similar sound of Jung und Stolz, while there is a slower feel to Mein Herz with its strong, solid rolling rhythms and German-vocals, while there is a piano-led intro to the more EBM feel on I Know, with its strong driving mid-paced rhythm featuring lead female-vocals, with the male-vocals covering its chorus as the piano and string laded feel to Schlaflied gives the track an almost ballad-like feel, and different twist to the album with additional female backing-vocals. The hard steady pace of Burnout and the somewhat similar, but better sounding Distance are of interest, but, both lack that something extra. Despite the fact that as an album it somewhat passed me by at times, there is no doubt that its also an excellent album, and one that I’m sure will be filling the dance floors of many an Industrial club across Europe, and least not in their home country. © DK