Neulander - Sex, God And Money

by Jon Rogers

published: 3 / 8 / 2003

Label: Ochre Records
Format: CD

Debut UK release from New York-based electronica duo, which despite rave reviews in their home city, proves to be devoid of even the slightest merit

Review

According to that bastion of journalistic integrity the New York Times, Neulander are the musical equivalent of "Neu taking on the Human League in battle" and nominate the duo as a hot tip for 2003. Perhaps it should be pointed out that this is from the newspaper who had its integrity damaged, forcing the editor Howell Raines and his deputy to resign after it came to light that reporter Jayson Blair had fabricated and plagiarised stories. Needless to say Neulander aren't a hot tip for 2003 - or any other year for that matter. If only they did have the avant-garde Krautrock credentials of Neu or even the tatty glamour of the Human League. At best they sound like a Howard Jones b-side single played at 33 rpm. The group comprises of Adam Peters and Austrian visual artist Korinna Knoll, who now seem to reside in New York City. They've ignored the great avant-garde guitar history the city has produced over the years in favour of inflicting the listener with some gawd-awful electro-pap rubbish that was bloody dreadful in the 80's, but at least it sounded fresh then. Now it's just stale. And even more dull. On the title track Knoll sings: "I think about sex, I think about god, I'm thinking about money" which is all very well but she (nor Peters) seem to have actually given much thought to music. Which is a slight hindrance if you want to make a record. Please don't make any more.