Blue Whale

Producer Kramer (Bongwater) strikes again with this Japanese band, led by former E-Trance member Mars, whose new album also features performances by ex-members of the Contortions, Ultra-Bide and Blonde Redhead. "Who Am I" and "Take My Hand" begin the disc in an airy, ponderous and typically Kramer-sounding fashion. "Sitting In My Room" gets a little bit darker, with vocals evoking Can's Damo Suzuki. This in turn segues back into the dreamy and mesmerising "Slowly." For variety, "Go Slow" offers an ironic take on dance music divas, before the disc jumps back into Pepperland. Like all things Kramer produces, this is never jarring, but nice.