Moderat III finds the Berlin based electronic producers putting down their most thoughtful work to date, crafting actual songs with structure and focus like never before. As the Apparat and Modeselektor combination, Moderat produce quality work both in studio and up on stage, though now with an even more heartfelt urgency in their third outing here.
The slight hum and fuzz of opener “Eating Hooks” slowly creeps in sobering hums of warmth before lead vocalist Sascha Ring (a.k.a. Apparat) croons meditating medication. Oddly enough the piece is tightly song structured for a trio of mish-mashed DJs known for their techno and IDM inspirations. “Running” thumps hard with synthetic shimmers, an obvious single choice for the redundant “So I keep on running” quality of its chorus that echoes in the distortions. Fitting that the rest of the running lines are lost in abstract obscurity by comparison, a nod to Apparat’s prior productions. As “Finder” layers on bass laden synth beats the "instrumental" builds up with softened vocal elements with a soaring quality about it. Albums prior tested the vocal waters a bit though now aside from here and “Animal Trails” the group’s sound seems to largely rely on the weight of Ring’s words.
Then album highlight “Ghostmother” swirls in layering background hums and intricate drum machine work. With no experience prior you might have thought that the group was an actual band, considering how each track moment such as those found here are complexly arranged. Dark themes of further abstraction unravel in fast paced, techno-fused drum tacks in “Reminder” as producer Gernot Bronsert (half of the Modeselektor pair) and Ring share vocal duties in the echoed sentiments – burning bridges lighting up all the way. “The Fool” moves much slower, taking time to build up sonic harmonies to match the equally cryptic words such as, “Fiddle stick in hand, bells on foot, a stranger in a lavish land.” As the track fades out the reliance on Apparat’s singing ability seems a bit forced.
Bronsert sings more prominently in “Intruder” with an echoing quality all the while. If you listen closely you can hear melodic glitches from producer Sebastian Szary (the other Modeselektor half) and even a live bass guitar, making you wonder if the producers are in fact trying to be a band. The collective’s only other instrumental of ‘Animal Trails’ warbles in an up tempo flurry of warm bass tones, echoing synths and percussive tribal elements. Whatever their aim may be the trio is trying ever hard to push their sonic creativity this time round, and does it rather well here. “Ethereal” as the name suggests is not of this world, or at least not supposed to be: in silent breathing, dream bubbles and fuzzy static. Halfway through techno beats play out like the heart pumping blood, giving a more humane quality to all the buttons and glitches to produce this work.
While the Moderat sound in III definitely seems to be moving more towards pop sensibility hooks and song craftsmanship, the group ultimately puts forth their strengths on this record. Complex drum tracks, thoughtful melodies, layering sounds and atmospheric pressure are all utilized with precision here. Granted the trio have production responsibilities remaining elsewhere, but with their consistently evolving output in Moderat it’s a wonder the group didn’t start sooner.