Kriedler

Germany's electronic scene could best be described as polarizing; it's responsible for both the hands-on, human-sounding rhythms of Krautrock and the mechanical, cyborg-like beats of microhouse. That's why it's so surprising that Düsseldorf's Kriedler have been able to merge the two so effortlessly for so long. The quartet's decision to work with eminent electronic artist/remixer/producer Tobias Levin (To Rococo Rot, Faust, Cool Kids of Death) makes perfect sense once the listener is exposed to Kriedler's druggy, molasses movers ("Saal") and bouncy popcorners ("New Earth"), equally explored on epic album closer "Kremlin Rules." As each of Tank's six tracks hovers around the seven-minute mark, it's clear that Kriedler have become comfortable studio performers, as chewy jams like spacious synth warbler "Evil Love" and off-rhythm mood-inducer "Gas Giants" demonstrate. For post-Krautrock, Tank comes off exceptionally laidback and innate, showing Kriedler comfortably settling into their role as Germany's electro mediators.