Berlin-based producer
Siriusmo (Moritz Friedrich) makes the type of jubilant, fractured electro-techno that seemingly could only find a home at labels like Boysnoize and Monkeytown. After one mini-album appeared on the former in 2008, he's released a raft of material on the latter, including several singles, a double-CD compilation, and three full-lengths. Comic is just as accurately named as Mosaik and
Enthusiast, hopscotching between glitchy, nervy electro and more relaxed (but still avid) grooves. The opening title track is simply elegant, with an earworm melody worthy of a '60s Moog-pop record by someone like
Jean-Jacques Perrey.
Mr. Oizo guests on the slinky yet nutty "Doppelklick," and other tracks such as the Speak & Spell-twisting "Wrong Password" share his offbeat sensibilities. "Dagoberta" is a bit more of a straightforward disco chugger, with thick bass guitar licks, handclaps, and neon synth chords. "Geilomant" is a pleasant surprise, starting out as a loose Sunday-morning stroll before progressing into a stranger, more starstruck second part, adding some crunchier drums but keeping the same leisurely tempo. There are a few slower, wonky tracks, but they aren't as filled with bad vibes as they might seem. As with all of
Siriusmo's releases, the songs are concise -- he seems to have a short attention span, and he can't resist whipping through a handful of fun ideas at a quick pace. This keeps Comic a gleeful, refreshingly varied listen. ~ Paul Simpson