Individual Totem – Electrostatic (CD Album – Artoffact Records)
Genre/Influences: EBM, body-pop.
Background/Info: Set up in the late 80s, but mainly active and getting renowned during the 90s, German formation Individual Totem strikes back with their fifth official studio album. The duo is still driven by core member Bernd Madl assisted by Jürgen Moßgraber.
Content: “Electrostatic” is a diversified piece of EBM and related influences. From pure body-pop to styled electronics featuring industrial sound treatments to good-old EBM (which sometimes might remind me of Front 242) this album will appeal for a wider electro-audience. I however recognized a typical 90s sound approach although adapted with contemporary influences.
+ + + : “Electrostatic” is a mature and accomplished production. The songwriting is sophisticated and made with noticeable sound treatments. There’s a good-old vintage touch running through the global sound production. It creates this retro-90s feeling, but still differentiates Individual Totem from average contemporary groups. This is a refreshing production with multiple cool cuts. I personally prefer the harder ones sung by enraged and passionate vocals.
– – – : This is without a shadow of a doubt a great piece of music, but without that ‘ultimate’ hit and that’s maybe what Individual Totem has missed during their entire career.
Conclusion: It always is a pleasure to discover new work by this German formation, which I’ll forever link with the 90s German scene. “Electrostatic” is one of their moist mature and achieved works in history.
Best songs: “Warriors Of The Sun”, “Beat”, “Perfect”, “Dreaming Of Angels”, “Interluder 1”.
Rate: (8).
Artist: www.individual–totem.com / www.facebook.com/IndividualTotem
Label: www.artoffact.com / www.facebook.com/artoffact
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