Tension Control – Fortschritt Duch Technik (Album – Brandsatz Records)
Genre/Influences: EBM.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Here comes the second full length album by Tension Control. The album was released at the end of 2019 and got very positive reactions in their homeland, Germany.
Content: “Fortschritt Durch
Technik” is what I should call ‘old-school EBM’. The songs have been sung in
German and English, but you clearly will recognize the ‘German touch’ reminding
me of famous bands such as DAF, Die Krupps and Orange Sector. Some of the songs
are driven by a minimal touch, which might remind you of DAF. There’re softer
cuts and ultra-danceable ones featured. The lyrical themes seem to be important
and especially the song “Brexit! Implosion Initialised” mainly featuring
samplings around the Brexit featuring Boris Johnson, is worthy of examination.
I also noticed funnier cuts such as “DAF Ist Ewig” and “Make EBM Great Again”.
The album ends with a surprising cover version of The Doors’ “Love Me Two
Times”.
+ + + : Such old-styled EBM productions aren’t original at all, but when the songs are accomplished and carried by a mature production you finally get a pleasant and danceable production. That’s precisely what this opus stands for. I noticed several cool cuts, but will especially tip the aforementioned “Brexit! Implosion Initialised”, the title song and “Make EBM Great Again” for the kind of martial rhythm. I also have to mention the cool artwork of the CD.
– – – : I think the cover version of “Love Me Two Times” is neither the most exciting nor successful work from the album. “DAF Ist Ewig” is another forgettable cut.
Conclusion: I can fully understand why this album got positive reactions in Germany; it’s a cool and highly recommended old-school EBM work!
Best songs: “Brexit! Implosion Initialised”, “Digitaler Bürgerkrieg”, “Fortschritt Durch Technik”, “Make EBM Great Again”.
Rate: (8).
Artist: www.facebook.com/tension.control.ebm
Label: www.brandsatz–records.org / www.facebook.com/BrandsatzRecords
About Tension Control
Tension Control is the solo project of German musician Michael Schrader, launched in 2016 on Brandsatz Records with the album “Im Rhythmus Der Maschinen” in 2017. “Fortschritt Durch Technik” followed as the project’s second album at the end of 2019, before Tension Control continued with the albums “Ton Aus Strom” in 2022 and “Freiheit” in 2026. Schrader also produces the techno-influenced project Michael Matters.
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