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Band: Melotron
Title: Cliché
Genre: Electro
Release Date: 2005-06-22
Record Company / Label: Synthetic (SPV)


Introduction

The masters of the German-speaking electronic pop are back! Since more than 10 years now they do are making trouble in the electronic scene. Once it began as support band for famous electric acts (like Front 242 / And One). And once Melotron were sniggered at. But now they developed to one of the most successful German-speaking bands in this genre. From Moscow to Washington, from Buenos Aires to Tel Aviv - Melotron are the German export hit in the matter of Electro-pop.  The new album is called “Cliché” and it fulfils all qualitative qualifications. It disposes seamlessly into the row of the latest albums “Weltfrieden” and “Sternenstaub”. Melotron remain true to their style, however, they use classical and dance elements too. Nevertheless, it is conspicuous that this time the rather gentle sounds predominate. The limited version of the album contains a photo map, an other version of “Menschenfresser” and the video-clip of “Brüder” which was recorded live at the “Leipzig WGT 2005”


Line-Up

Andy Krüger
Edgar Slatnow
Kay Hildebrandt
Guest:
Vocals On “Stirb Für Mich” Susanne Adler
English Horn On “Frei Wie Das Meer” Bernd Holz


Song Review

01. Marlene – 00:40
This short Intro is composed of Jazz- and Electro-sound-collages, augmented with samples from animal and vocal noises.

02. Halt Mich Fest – 04:05
Unimpressed by clichés (where the album was named after) Melotron continue their taken way and offer once again flawless Electro sound. “Halt mich fest” is a mid-tempo number which reminds of the old “Depeche Mode”.

03. Frei Wie Das Meer – 05:27
This song is a typical Melotron-ballad and a song that invites you to dream away. The “English Horn” harmonizes very well with the synthetic sounds.

04. Menschenfresser – 04:55
Thos is one of the fast and square-edged songs on this record. The original was written by “Rio Reiser” (who died in 1994 and is known as member of the German anarchy band “Ton Steine Scherben”). With this song, Melotron capable demonstrate once again how to create a good cover version. It is a very fast song and with these qualities it could become the next “dancefloor-filler”.

05. Stirb Für Mich – 07:12
The beat pushes straight into the direction of the dance floor. “Andy Krüger” as well as his duet partner “Susanne Adler” (from “Emergenz”) harmonise in this song as if they had always sung together. You don’t have to be an illusionist to imagine the dancing crowd in a dark and electronic influenced club.

06. Alles Gesagt – 03:36
This is another ballad. Just the lyrics make “Melotron” that unique. What may seem to be a bit banal for one or another at the first sight, turns out to worldly wisdoms with every additional listening.

07. Wenn Wir Wollten – 03:49
This song was released as a single. Melotron represent another fine Electro-pop song in their inimitable way again. The catchy melody and the lyrics immediately go into your ears and animate you to sing along. The album version is a little bit longer than the single version.

08. Lebenslauf – 06:56
This song is definitely one of the fastest ones of the CD and it nearly can be called EBM. Dark beats and dark voices - the refrain escapes from the narrow corset of the song and harmonious and ear-candy-like synthesizer melodies appear.

09. Einfach So – 04:50
This is the most quiet number on the CD. With this song, also the lovers of the more romantic and calmer sounds will be satisfied.

10. Propaganda – 04:11
Rather unusual appears the song “Propaganda” which passes of as nearly tough for the terms of the band. The lyrics consist only of slogans which you could find in that way as headlines in newspapers during the last months.

11. Griechisch / Römisch – 03:08
This calm instrumental creates a lot of atmosphere with its Synth-layers that spread like fog.

12. Gläserne Zeiten – 05.26
The track “Gläserne Zeiten” makes you assume that the beats originate from “Kraftwerk”, the band out of Düsseldorf. Over this minimalist beats a sound construct like “And One” do is, was built up. Nevertheless, it isn’t a matter of just a copy. To be just a copy, “Melotron” are simply to multi-purposed too.

13. Sandström – 04:55
This is the second instrumental song on this CD. This time rather a mid-tempo track that nevertheless goes completely without chant too.

14. Bonus - Menschenfresser (HECQ Mix) – 05:23
This mix is quite square-edged and the beats remind easily of Break-beat. Also a tough track that gets by without vocals.

15.Bonus - Brüder (Video – Clip)  – 06:10


Tipp

Halt Mich Fest
Lebeslauf
Propaganda


Cover Picture




Technical summary

Version: CD
Total Playing Time: Audio 64:38 + Video 06:10
Total Songs: 14 + 1 Video - Clip


Rating

Music: 9
Sound: 9
Extras: 6
Total: 9


Tour Dates 2005/06

17.09.  Glauchau/Alte Spinnerei
01.10.  NL-Zaandam/Kade
07.10.  Hannover/Capitol
15.10.  Halle (Saale)/Volkspark
03.11.  Augsburg/Kantine
04.11.  Frankfurt/Nachtleben
12.11.  Görlitz/Kulturbrauerei
18.11.  Krefeld/Kulturfabrik
16.12.  Bremen/ Club Moments
17.12.  Dresden/Reithalle
21.01.  Berlin/Kesselhaus
26.01.  Leipzig/Moritzbastei
27.01.  Kaiserslautern/Kamgarn
10.02.  Erfurt/Centrum

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