Beborn Beton - A Worthy Compensation

If you were a fan of pop and EBM in the late nineties, I think it was rather impossible to miss Beborn Beton's hit 'Another World'. Plenty of radio play, constant fan-sharing, and tours throughout Europe and North America assured that they and their song became classic throughout many electronic music gurus households. I can only imagine that a lot of fans were rather baffled that Beborn Beton never disbanded, but failed to put out another album after 1999's "Fake". But, the great German trio were never in a hibernated state. 

They made a plan to create an album without compromises that would speak their mission out for them. Their mission is to combine 80s influences with modern day beats and rhythms. While that does sound vague, and while a lot of other bands say they are influenced by legends of the past, so few can pull off a balance of both old and new without either relying on too many old tactics or sounding like a clone of so many other new bands. This is why when Beborn Beton finally announced their return with "A Worthy Compensation" many, many fans rejoiced and celebrated (And I do believe a few of them may have had heart attacks). 

Prepping myself for the new release, I went back and listened to select tracks from all of Beborn Beton's albums. I wanted to refresh myself and befriend Beborn Beton before diving into something new. As I relished in much of their past material, I could only get more and more enthusiastic as time passed. After I swallowed down a whole bunch of their old but gold songs, I was finally ready for "A Worthy Compensation". 

What you will immediately notice upon listening to the album is that Netschio's vocals have matured handsomely. While he still has his distinct, mid-range chords, his voice sounds much more well mannered. His voice has aged very well over the past fifteen years, and I don't think he's ever sounded better in his career than now. 

The beats have come across very dreamy, as well. Melancholic rhythms flow in from the heavier laid synth sequences in 'Terribly Wrong', to the more sweet, and lighter sounds of 'She Cried'. Either way, every song is built in a structure that will make you want to dance. Such elegance and form would not have been possible if it were not for the grace of Olaf Wollschläger. His name should be recognizable for fans of MESH, Yello, In Strict Confidence, and Seabound. Anyway, he served as both an engineer and a studio producer on this album, and his ear did not let a single sound pass him; the production value on this album is as high as you can possibly expect and I was not disappointed in the slightest. So, to both Wagner and Tillmann, I salute thee. 

Knowing that this album has been in thought since 1999, it would have been truly devastating if Beborn Beton did not make ends meet for their fans. However, I don't really have much of a doubt in saying that they've done a spectacular job at creating, as the liner noted in the album says, "THE BEST ALBUM WE WILL PROBABLY EVER MAKE." 

I don't think I have much more to say about this album other than it is really fucking good. There are two versions available in CD digipack format and 2LP+2CD Gatefold. Go give it a listen in the very least. 
Aug 30 2015