Automat - Plusminus

by Maarten Schiethart

published: 19 / 6 / 2015

Label: Bureau B
Format: CD

Stripped to the bone rhythms, jazz licks, dance and electronica on rich and diverse second album from Berlin trio, Automat

Review

Deep and heavy right from the start with its opening track 'Mono', Automat's second LP does't exactly get off on the wrong foot. It, however, really starts to cut loose on the next track 'RE 201', which features wobbling bubble basses aplenty. Combining Orwellian NewSpeak with a touch of 'Star Wars' dance music, 'Plusminus' merely flirts with Krautrock. 'Achtung', the next track, is mesmerizing in its repetition. Strikingly original already, 'H 910', the third track, provides the next sharp turn. The smoothness of the title track serves as ample refinement to these Basic Channel Berlin excursions. It is as if its molten beats have reached a much higher ground. Working in a similar fashion to an Autobahn navigating system, 'Plusminus' leads us through archaic clickhouse - anyone remember 1998 and clicks_+_cuts? - to dubs and electro beats. All in all, 'Plusminus' provides the perfect balance in beats and melodies. Astute, deep and funky, such as on 'SST 282', Automat make sounds that are impossible to match. Automat rejoice in a mish mash of King Tubby, Basic Channel and Jeff Mills. From today onwards, Automat will be the mightiest act to follow.