| Artist |
| Kommando XY |
| Title |
| Welcome To Gestrikland |
| Format/Cat |
| CD ETC CD 001 |
| Label |
| Electric Tremor Dessau |
| Style |
| old skool EBM |
| Date of review |
| 20th September 2009 |
| Reviewer |
| Carl Jenkinson |
| Rating |
| 7/10 |
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Making sure that the Germans don't have everything their own way, the duo of Joakim Mohlund (vocals) & Gustav Jansson (machines) are doing their bit to ensure that Sweden's old-skool roots aren't forgotten with this no-nonsense offering. Their mix of typically minimalist electronics & harsh, shouted vocals (mainly in their native tongue) fit well within the label's old-skool remit with very few concessions so its appeal is likely to be restricted for anyone who's not an old-skool lover. That said, a number of tracks such as 'Algjakt' & the splendidly-titled 'Genesis Does (What Ninendon't) both offer nicely catchy shouted chants on their respective choruses & I can imagine the latter being the one that makes it onto compilations & so on. Similarly, the opening title track unfolds from its muffled beginnings into a slow but muscular piece with a decidedly raw edge. One major surprise comes in the form of 'Vargavinter' where the opening mix of percussion & piano is reminiscent of the beginning of Visage's eponymous single & while it soon shows its old-skool colours (albeit in a slightly chilled, laidback form) the piano pops up throughout to give the track a more individual edge. Other highlights include 'Parkesten' where the vocals & bass sequence compliment each other in a way that few artists have ever managed while 'Vargen' ends the album on a muscular, no-messing-about note. Throughout these Swedes stick to the old-skool style & if that's your thing, this will not disappoint &, as an added bonus, their logo (a mooshead through a wheel) is good as well!!
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