Along with Mark E Smith's day job that is the Fall he's also had a nice little earner on the side over the years working with Techno outfits. In the past he's worked with Coldcut, Tackhead and DOSE. And in the late 1990's he would tell all and sundry that he was bored with guitars as well as wax lyrically about his collection of dance records.

It's not that surprising then that the Fall's commander has formed an alliance with Andi Thoma and Jan St Werner of Mouse on Mars. It's an intriging collaboration. On one side is Smith's northern spit and sawdust bile spewing forth on anything that catches his eye while on the other is the more measured throb of Germany's electronic experimenters.

But 'Tromatic Reflexxions' isn't defined by its contradictions and antagonisms. In fact, it's at its best when the seemingly two dissimilar elements fuse and blend together that the album really comes into its own. The single 'Fledermaus Can't Get It' sets the standard from the start, a clanking rumble that rumbles along. 'That Sound Wiped', too, subtly blends Smith's storytelling abilities which is wonderfully backed up by a rolling rhythm.

For most of the time 'Tromatic Reflexxion's manages to throw out some leftfield, interesting ideas. 'The Rhinohead' though is an unashamed stab at a dancefloor filler. It wouldn't sound that out of place on New Order's Techno-influenced 'Technique'. It's likely to get the popular vote but there's nothing that challenging. Luckily there are tracks like 'Flooded' and 'Speech Contamination/German Fear of Österreich' to hold your attention.



Track Listing