Von Südenfeld: Tromatic Reflexxions

Von SüdenfeldVon Südenfeld is, in case you didn't know, the latest collaboration between Andi Toma and Jan St. Werner of Mouse on Mars reknown and Mark E. Smith, legendary singer of The Fall. I'm normally really dubious of these crossover collaboration things, they rarely seem to go beyond the sum of their parts. Von Südenfeld are pleasantly surprising in this respect. Whilst there are several tracks that sound like Mouse on Mars noodling whilst Mark E. Smith rants, there are a couple where they meld really well. Serious Brainskin is anarcho grime with the lyrics fitting adding nice rhythmic accentuation to the beats. The Young, The Faceless And The Codes is in my opinion the stand-out track. The song builds up from a disco beat adding acid house elements and vocals till we have something resembling a slicker, more danceable version of P.I.L.'s Death Disco and which by the end comes truly anthemic. It is not surprising that the best tracks are where both sides of the collaboration seem to have departed from their own familiar territory. On Tromatic Reflexxions we can see a band forming whilst still trying to shake off their pasts, for the tracks where this is pulled off this album is worth it, and hey - inbetween you get jam sessions with Mark E. Smith and Mouse on Mars, if thats your cup of tea. :: Von Südenfeld: Tromatic Reflexxions - Domino/Rough Trade