Rekindled after a false start in 2002, the Moderat project brings together two of Germany’s most talented sound architects: Modeselektor and Apparat. And much like chocolate and peanut butter before it, it is a rich and sensual pairing that should be enjoyed by many. Technical mavens that they are, the group recorded Moderat through vintage analog gear at Hansa Studios in Berlin, birthplace of albums like Heroes (David Bowie), Achtung Baby (U2), and Some Great Reward (Depeche Mode). The fidelity is top-notch, and the thorough processing of hand-played instrumentation and vocals’especially on tracks like ‘Porc #1′ and ‘Rusty Nails’gives the album a three-dimensional feel that’s missing from so many IDM-styled projects. Elsewhere, bulbous neck snappers like ‘Slow Match’ (featuring Paul St. Hilaire) and ‘Sick With It’ (featuring Frank Dell’ of Seeed) play well against the fluttery techno instrumentals that each artist is known for. This is heady material, but it’s also extremely beautiful and catchy, and picks up right where each of their respective solo careers left off.

RELATED POSTS: