MOTOR
UNHUMAN
ALBUM NOVAMUTE, EMI RELEASE: MARCH 21, 2007 REVIEW: APRIL 26, 2007


The clinical beats and clean, cold bleeps of "Unhuman" are so sparse and minimal that they make you shiver. Even with sporadic and effect treated vocals, this industrial techno sound is permeated by an emptiness both suggestive and distressing.

The latter impression comes in foremost. Mostly I can hear little more than relentless, frustrated machismo, pressed and packaged as an endless loop. On the first track "Bleep#1" this approach still carries a certain power, but it starts wearing off as the record progresses.

Motor are said to have powerful stage presence, but true to its name "Unhuman" is pretty much free from sweat and human intensity. At times this gives the music a menacing, mechanical quality, hard to resist for anyone weaned on German technopop. Much too often though, it just gets on my nerves.

MATTIAS HUSS