January 16 2007
And One – Bodypop and Militant Cheerleaders On the Move – Freaks single
Of course, not everyone likes their electronic music hopped up on brutality and ultraviolence. What about the lighter side of electronic dance music?
There is something comforting about the music of And One. Though they haven’t changed their tune much in recent years, their music is satisfying in the same way that home cooking is satisfying: the familiarity of it just hits the spot, so to speak. Like 9.9.99 UHR, I.S.T., and Virgin Superstar, Bodypop offers an album’s worth of smooth, Depeche Mode-influenced futurepop with dance floor-friendly beats, smooth synth work, and emotive vocals in German and English. Also, like And One’s past club hits “Panzermensch,” “Get You Closer,” and “Deutschmachine,” Bodypop’s “Military Fashion Show” is the kind of earworm guilty pleasure that will rule your stereo for weeks.
Do you remember Nitzer Ebb? Militant Cheerleaders On the Move sure do. It’s actually hard to believe that they’re not a Nitzer Ebb cover band, in fact. Though there are only four tracks on Freaks (three songs and a remix, naturally) the Ebbfluence comes through loud and clear. Repetitive retro synths and drum tracks loop while some bloke shouts ridiculous lyrics and goes completely over-the-top. And I do mean ridiculous. Some sample lyrics from “Freaks”: “Dance freaks dance! Get down, get ready!” (Don’t even get me started on the song “Athletic.”) Sadly, as derivative as this is, it’s still pretty fun. I would like to see industrial kids doing aerobics to this.
And One – Bodypop
Militant Cheerleaders On the Move – Freaks
