Modeselektor

Happy Birthday!

Bpitch Control




The need for a drawn-out introduction for this record is at best, miniscule. Why, one might ask? Because this is the record of 2007. It’s got something for everyone, right down to it’s title, and as far as electronic records go, Modeselektor has trashed the genre for something much more accessible and easygoing without compromising any of it’s true aesthetic. What does Happy Birthday! have to offer? Lets see… Throw-back techno? Check. Futurist electronica that could make Daft Punk weep? Check. Thrashing sleaze-rap? Check. French Hip-hop? Check. Outer-space dancehall anthems? Check. A mantra featuring Thom Yorke? Check. The list goes on and on, and as cliché as it might seem, this Berlin duo manages to pull it off in the most genuine of fashion—akin to what Lavelle and Shadow did with UNKLE’s Psyence Fiction, only opting instead for multi-faceted electronica as opposed to independently-spirited hipster trip-hop. Happy Birthday! is the duo’s second long-player for Berlin’s Bpitch Control, and wastes no time in making the statement that techno-bred tunes can still be playful and serious, and at times still tongue-in-cheek. “Godspeed” a heavily layered, slowed-down electro-ascent, sets the immediate tone for the record, that it’s going to be a hell of a time, as we ride the psyches of Sebastian Szary and Gernot Bronsert through 17 of their latest offerings, which peak with diversity while holding close to their club-pounding roots. The first vocal offering (courtesy of Parisian hip-hoppers TTC) is an attention-deficit-dream of a song, straddling a fence that separates spastic electronics and the finest in French club hip-hop. Although some might never fully understand the track (its sung completely in French), it’s hard not to love “2000007,” even if only for it’s sarcastic title, or the fact that the chorus hollers out the numerals in a French-English hybrid of “Two-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-SET!” The other lyrical selections all include guest musicians, and every one of them fit seemingly well into the context of what Modeselektor as set out to achieve. Otto Von Schirach offers his noise and vocals in the super-fun, collaborative shout-out/party banger “Hyper Hyper;” The Puppetmastaz—Germany’s premier porno-rap puppet show—contribute to “Dark Side of the Sun,” which dabbles in silly, dirty raps and a radio-friendly beat that could give Lil’ Jon a run for his money; and notably, Thom Yorke offers his vox up for “The White Flash,” a stark and tripped-out, but superbly produced number that acts rather minimally in it’s demeanor. However, as Yorke’s vocals are predominantly at the front of the mix, he only offers up two or three repeated lines, as the Selektors delve deep into dark electronica for a truly haunting beat. It’s in this moment where it is evident that Happy Birthday! doesn’t rely on star power at all, as Modeselektor is blazing their own trail with unknowns and known artists alike. Further proving this is, “Let Your Love Grow,” which features Dominican expat Paul St. Hilaire giving due diligence to what Caribbean dancehall might sound like some years in the future. It’s absolutely stunning, and for as experimental as this track might be, it comes off clean and experienced, for one of the album’s standout tracks. The remainder of the record is largely music-only, and shows off the roots-ier side of Szary and Bronsert’s engaging craft. The title track throws in some almost gypsy-esque synthesizer lines in with a party beat for an innovative twist; “Sucker Pin” ventures into the analog styling of 8-bit video game music with astounding, ass-shaking results; and “The First Rebirth” offers an updated take on old-school futuristic science-fiction music, complete with a distant synth loop for a truly vintage feel. However, “The Wedding Toccato Theme” might be the party jam of the record, as its dirgy nature feels both gangsta and club, for a truly liberating listen. What the title is all about is beyond me, but the audio content alone is worth every second; it’s a metaphor for what this whole record is about, baffling at times, but a strong release in every sense of the word. This is definitely one of the best records of the year, and it’s fair to say that whatever is left to be released in 2007 has some serious competition as Modeselektor has effortlessly raised the bar with Happy Birthday!. At equal parts jam to beat to pulse to lyrics to whatever else, if you can’t shake your ass to this record, you simply can’t shake your ass—this record is of priceless quality.


Bpitch Control
Modeselektor