artist: Kreidler country of origin: Germany style(s): Krautrock, chamber music, electronica essential releases: Eve Future Recall (2004, Wonder Records)

This trio's early albums from the 90's are interesting enough excursions in experimental rock and dance electronica, traversing vaguely similar terrain to that explored by fellow Germans Can, Faust and Ash Ra Tempel in the 1970's. Eve Future Recall is something entirely different, however.

When modern bands play around with classical instruments all sorts of names and categories get thrown about, all attempting to locate the music outside the traditional classical world. Post-rock anyone? Or to quote this album's media release, how about "modern compositional" for something almost completely meaningless? To these ears, Eve Future Recall as a kind of eclectic, intimate chamber music for the modern world. It's melodic and structured, like Baroque music. In parts it is quite simple and develops gradually, like the 20th century minimalism of Philip Glass et al. Some of its melodies echo folk and pop, but not quite.

Kreidler has dabbled in many areas over the years, so its not surprising they make music that's hard to describe. What I can say with certainly as that this album is at once soulful, intelligent and easily approached. Most of the instrumentation is actually electronic, yet such is Kreidler's programming nouse that many of these tracks sound like the work of live players. Featured sounds include strings, vibraphone, piano, woodwinds, harp, kettle drums and - last but not least - the glorious glockenspiel.

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