autoKratz // Self Help For Beginners // Out Now // Bad Life
New wave/synthpop outfit autoKratz have been with us for a while, releasing a few singles and doing remixes for La Roux and Underworld. Their fist full length album, Animal was released in 2009 and was Mixmag’s Album of the Month.
Their latest offering, Self Help For Beginners, is as 80′s as a fridge-sized mobile phone. There’s loads of Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode and New Order influence, as well as a little of the European Daft Punk element. Peter Hook features on the second song (which is also the second single) from the album, Becoming the Wraith, a catchy tune that has an incredibly Cure-ish guitar riff.
There are some very catchy songs on this album, but I don’t feel much of an emotional connection. It almost sounds like someone was making an 80′s themed film, and approached some musicians and was like ‘make me an 80′s soundtrack”, resulting in a lacklustre 80′s tribute album. I wouldn’t be as harsh as NME, but I would say this is an album you’ll want to ‘try before you buy’.
Becoming The Wraith Ft Peter Hook:
Facebook comments: