T.RAUMSCHMIERE RADIO BLACKOUT ALBUM NOVAMUTE, PLAYGROUND RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 22, 2003 REVIEW: NOVEMBER 25, 2003

Teutonic lobotomy, anyone? Despite having filched the band name from the German title of a William S Burroughs short story, T.Raumschmiere seems hellbent on nothing else than proving their own stupidity. Their whole concept screams of a desire for the cheapest thrills imaginable. Now, I’ve got nothing against artistic stupidity, at least not if it comes in the shape of John Waters movies or Ramones records. But T.Raumschmiere are far, far away from those levels.
Maybe I’m missing the point, but placing a cheesy skull and crossbones on the cover and inviting Miss Kittin to scream some “punk” vocals (that are decidedly not punk at all) doesn’t really do it for me. When the downbeat “Drown in the Sea While Watching the Stars” far outshines all the headbanging electro trash hip hop on display, there has to be something wrong. What it comes down to is that “Radio Blackout” is just not as fun listening to as a record like this has to be.

KRISTOFFER NOHEDEN