Coming after
European Song,
Kreidler's reaction to the 2016 United States presidential election,
Flood is slightly more relaxed, yet still suspenseful. Crafted from sessions in Düsseldorf and Berlin,
Flood is filled with spontaneous yet tightly controlled rhythms laced with subtle dub effects. Far closer to the electro side of Krautrock than the more rock-based side, the album has a sequenced, robotic flow, yet still seems driven by a human sense of anticipation. "Celeration" builds from jittery arpeggios to interlocked drumming, spiked by synth flourishes which feel like someone creeping up on you. "Nesindano" is a sly electro-pop tune sung in the click-heavy Southern African language Khoekhoe by Nesindano Namises, whose warm voice intriguingly meshes with the rolling electronic rhythms. Much of the album is taken up by the multi-movement "Flood" suite, a soft current of drifting, brushing drums and wave-like synths which is continuous for the first four parts. The band hush down a bit on the second part in order to give some space for Ricardo Domeneck to deliver a reflective monologue in Portuguese. "Flood IV" adds some tropical-sounding percussion and strangely sounds both festive and glum. The overall effect of the album is tense but escapist, like taking a pleasant vacation but still not quite approaching complete relaxation. ~ Paul Simpson