And One - Shouts of Joy

You're not seeing things, I am indeed the fellow reviewing the latest single from Germany's longest running underground synthie pop act And One. We've had our differences, this band and I. Upon leaving Machinery Records, I let them go, only briefly checking in on them again during the days of '9.9.99'. While amusing and lighthearted, I no longer took them seriously as I did in the days of 'Flop' or the powerhouse masterpiece of 'I.S.T.' Where had that edge gone... where was the menacing perfection of songs like "Over There" or the stately dark majesty of a tune such as "Heart of Stone". I'll tell you where it went, into the river of time to re-surface on this single, my friends. With Joke Jay now back in the band after a decade out, a new zenith of machine perfection has been attained. How I have missed this fellow and his production wizardry! I can stop playing Fiasko Deluxe into the ground now.

It feels like a balance has at been struck between himself and front man Steve Naghavi. Those infectious leads run amok and if you're wondering, shiny choruses are the order of the day.

I forgive them their late 90's hunger for mainstream success, I'll even stop being angry with them for whatever the hell those last two albums were supposed to be. And One have grown up in the span of just one song, this could be a club stormer yet as it's so solidly epic! The non album tracks on here are both addictive in wildly different ways, I leave it up to you listeners to discover them for yourself... there's no disappointment awaiting you. After those you get the Ohne Trix version of their previous release "Back Home". Trading in the groovy shuffle beat of the original, they take us to a quiet dinner club where our fearless foursome put on the suit and tie and do their best Rat Pack impression. I had always thought they'd eventually wind up in Vegas because of how camp they get at times but they don't completely give in to the strip, there's a decidedly German beer hall appeal to this as well with canned laughter and audience participation leaving me in stitches. It's all just so over the top.

Things take a blase turn once Naghavi executes his own mix of "Shouts of Joy" that makes me break out in yawns. Vocoders and auto tune never do much for me and the stripped down arrangement is too Mode, you could have heard a song like this during Depeche's 'Some Great Reward' era handily but don't we all own that album already? Point made. You Ryth's rendition of the title track only serves to remind me how much Ebb worship there is out in the world today. It's an attempt to take us back to the days of "Turn The Nation" with a heavy helping of 'That Total Age' to sweeten the deal. No thanks, guys. Living in the past is best left to the tired burned out old men who fear now and clamor for the safety of stagnation. I really wish they'd have just made this a four track single as these two final mixes very easily could have (and should have) stayed on the cutting room floor. Aside from these issues, this is a very strong new showing for the group and for the first time since 1993, I'm genuinely looking forward to a new album from And One.

Supremely confident and effervescently sparkling, And One are back home alright. This is solid electronic pop music with some of the best melodies and hooks I have heard out of them in years, they'll surely turn heads with their new record and for all the missteps they have made, they are absolutely on point now. Give me the strobes, boys, it's time to dance. Apr 10 2012