TECHNOIR GROUNDLEVEL ALBUM BLOODLINE, SSC, PLAYGROUND RELEASE: OCTOBER 8, 2001 (GERMANY) NOVEMBER 5, 2001 (SCANDINAVIA) REVIEW: NOVEMBER 23, 2001

How I've waited for this! I never expected to hear something so beautifully built. I'm talking about Invisible Limits' song writing skills in combination with up to date production and exclusively synthesizer driven soundscapes. Technoir, with Julia Beyer (ex-Inside) and Steffen Gehring (Plastic Noise Experience), does this and adds the qualities of good English pronunciation and non-kindergarten grammar. That's an accomplishment in itself, coming from a German band.
The songs on "Groundlevel" stem form the same mystical source, but grow in slightly different directions to create both intense dance flirts and emotionally melancholic ballads. The first official Technoir release, the single "Requiem", shows the band at its best, as does a number of other tracks including "Sanctuary", "Blaze" and "Nightmare". I know the word catchy is overused in synthpop reviews, and I'm as guilty as anyone, but this is dark, emotional, dance friendly electronic pop with heavenly female vocals. Quite catchy too, actually. No, "Groundlevel" is very catchy.

NIKLAS FORSBERG