‘Zoomer’ is the second solo album from German drummer, guitarist and singer Dirk Dreselhaus, aka Schneider TM. However, it’s the first featuring his vocals - 1998 debut ‘Moist’ was purely an instrumental effort. Dirk found his singing voice on last year’s mini album ‘Binokular’, a collaborative production with long time musical partner KPT, where he covered The Smiths’ ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’, as ‘The Light 3000’. Lauded by Jarvis Cocker and hitting number 8 in John Peel’s Festive 50, it also featured on the veritable who’s who of the electronica genre, Rough Trade’s ‘Electronica 01’.
After listening to ‘Zoomer’, you’re glad he did discover his singing talents. The album’s catchy vocals really get a hook in you and with closer examination, their heartfelt substance is also revealed. Opener, ‘Reality Check’s vocodered lyrics ride guitar and drum n’ bass rhythms, telling us to stay true to our soul. First single, ‘Frogtoise’, illustrates Dirk’s belief in harnessing the power of dreams for song writing purposes. "I find that the best and most inspiring moments are between being asleep and awake, it’s the time where consciousness and sub-consciousness meet." Describing his fantasy of an imaginary creature, the splicing of frog and tortoise, we get sublime Beach Boys-style vocal harmonies over stuttering electronics.
On ‘Abyss’, the uncertainties of relationships are explored, while the enchanting ‘DJ Guy?’ mixed by Hamburg reggae and hip-hop producer, Mathias Arfman, features a backdrop of electro clicks and pops. His touch is more recognisable on ‘Turn On’, as poet and musician Max Turner adds a rap to Arfman’s hip-hop beats with Dirk on backing vocals. It’s back to the more experimental fizzing, whirring and buzzing electronica motifs on instrumental, ‘Hunger’ and later we’re served with the squalling digital noise of ‘999’, conjuring up images of My Bloody Valentine. Album closer, ‘Cuba TM’ features the sounds of viola and Lambchop’s pedal steel player, Paul Niehaus, as the lovelorn song asks, "...are we going to stay the same, or will we change our shape?"
On ‘Zoomer’ we’re offered an experimental vision of sound, lyrics with a pop sensibility alongside sweetly sung harmonies, combining to form what’ can only be described as true, robo-soul music.
www.schneidertm.com
www.cityslang.com
Reviewed
by Colin Chapman
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