Franck Vigroux and Matthew Bourne - Radioland: Radio-Activity Revisited

  by Keith How

published: 21 / 2 / 2016

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For many of us Kraftwerk’s seminal 1975 album 'Radio-Activity' is held in the highest of regard. It is, of course, cool to remind everyone of how our beloved David Bowie had his head turned by Kraftwerk and the “Koshmiche“ sound of that era. I think it is fair to say that the thought of anyone tinkering with such a classic from another time sends an icy shiver down the spine of an older listener. I pressed play with some trepidation but with my mind fairly open! I am happy to say that the duo’s collaboration turns out to be a fantastic reworking as they bring this seminal but underrated album into the space age. There are one or two moments where a sharp intake of breath is needed such as with 'Antenna', but on the whole this is great stuff. From the word go the original motifs and melody lines are there for us. 'Radioactivity', for example, gains in power in a modern setting. The keyboard signature shines and hovers over a humming synthesizer and space bleeps, while 'Airwaves' is full of menace with sampled voices and tasteful electronic signals weaving and pulsating in the mix. 'The Voice of Energy' provides a more restful moment. The album is the result of a multi-media re-imagination that celebrated the 40th anniversary of the album's original release with artist Antoine Schmitt collaborating with Matthew Bourne and Franck Vigroux. The result is this rather otherworldly imagining of Kraftwerk. 'Radioland' is cerebral and avant-garde while retaining the originality of the 1975 release. 'Radio Stars' hums and broods like a dark storm, the bass throbbing and growling, and, with plenty of electronic fizzle around a repeated vocal phrase before fading out, it sounds very eerie. I find it easy to be precious about the past and, yes the original has that wonderful analogue emotion, but here Matthew Bourne and Franck Vigroux have indeed re-imagined the past and brought us a new shiny beast to experience. 'Transistor' is ethereal and beautiful before 'Ohm Sweet Ohm' transports us along power lines and spaceways a crackling and vibrating drone. Is this a result? I think so. It is a brave and passionate creation. My advice? Jump on the night bus and listen on headphones.

Track Listing:-

1 Geiger Counter
2 Radioactivity
3 Radioland
4 Airwaves
5 Intermission / News
6 The Voice of Energy
7 Antenna
8 Radio Stars
9 Uranium
10 Transistor
11 Ohm Sweet Ohm

Band Links:-

http://matthewbourne.com/blog/
https://matthewbourne.bandcamp.com/
https://twitter.com/MortButane
https://www.facebook.com/mortbutane
https://twitter.com/franckvigroux
http://www.franckvigroux.com/

Label Links:-

http://www.theleaflabel.com/en/index.php
https://www.facebook.com/theleaflabel
https://twitter.com/theleaflabel
https://www.youtube.com/user/theleaflabel
https://plus.google.com/109098497483046618790

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