WELLE:ERDBALL OPERATION: ZEITSTURM ALBUM SYNTHETIC SYMPHONY, PLAYGROUND RELEASE: APRIL 23, 2010 REVIEW: MAY 24, 2010

I have been struggling to find a way into this review. I did not care much for these neurotic retro Germans in their hesitant early days, but they gradually improved their sound during the late nineties and onwards. However, re-imagining their sound has not been a priority and "Operation:Zeitsturm" adds nothing new to their patented Commodore pop.

Still operating in the lands of smooth analogue sounds and computer nostalgia, even Welle:Erdball might soon find themselves out of creative ideas. Some elements, as always, are catchy and infectious as they are clever melody carpenters, but on the whole I get a feeling of saturation. Some sort of vitamin injection is needed.

Please note that there is a film of the same name, "Operation:Zeitsturm", that is not included in this review (since we just got a promo of the music album). So do give it a chance as it is by no means bad. Just more of the same.

NIKLAS FORSBERG