180 gram heavy vinyl, Leoporello (fold out poster), Printed inner sleeve, Die-cut outer sleeve, Lyrics.
For bands, a “hiatus” is usually just a polite way of announcing a break-up, but sometimes, a hiatus is just that—a hiatus. Back in 2017, when Moderat announced that they’d be taking an extended break following a final concert in their hometown of Berlin, many assumed that the group was basically calling it quits. After all, they’d already completed a celebrated trilogy of albums, repeatedly broken into the pop charts and performed all around the globe (including MainStage sets at some of the world’s biggest festivals including Coachella, Roskilde, Rock Werchter, Glastonbury, Primavera, Sónar and many many more)—what else was left for the German trio to accomplish? Moderat, however, always knew that they’d find their way back to one another.
MORE D4TA, the group’s fourth album, arrives more than six years after its predecessor (2016’s III), yet its contents are quintessentially Moderat. Although the trio’s hiatus was absolutely real—exhausted after years of touring, Apparat (a.k.a. Sascha Ring) and Modeselektor (a.k.a. Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary) spent two years away from one another, focusing instead on their own respective projects—once they decided to resume working together, the music (eventually) started flowing again.
A1. FAST LAND A2. EASY PREY A3. DRUM GLOW A4. NEON RATS A5. SOFT EDIT B1. NUMB BELL B2. UNDO REDO B3. DOOM HYPE B4. MORE LOVE B5. COPY COPY
For bands, a “hiatus” is usually just a polite way of announcing a break-up, but sometimes, a hiatus is just that—a hiatus. Back in 2017, when Moderat announced that they’d be taking an extended break following a final concert in their hometown of Berlin, many assumed that the group was basically calling it quits. After all, they’d already completed a celebrated trilogy of albums, repeatedly broken into the pop charts and performed all around the globe (including MainStage sets at some of the world’s biggest festivals including Coachella, Roskilde, Rock Werchter, Glastonbury, Primavera, Sónar and many many more)—what else was left for the German trio to accomplish? Moderat, however, always knew that they’d find their way back to one another.
MORE D4TA, the group’s fourth album, arrives more than six years after its predecessor (2016’s III), yet its contents are quintessentially Moderat. Although the trio’s hiatus was absolutely real—exhausted after years of touring, Apparat (a.k.a. Sascha Ring) and Modeselektor (a.k.a. Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary) spent two years away from one another, focusing instead on their own respective projects—once they decided to resume working together, the music (eventually) started flowing again.
A1. FAST LAND A2. EASY PREY A3. DRUM GLOW A4. NEON RATS A5. SOFT EDIT B1. NUMB BELL B2. UNDO REDO B3. DOOM HYPE B4. MORE LOVE B5. COPY COPY
The second EP being released in the wake of the recent Extended mixtape, Social Distancing showcases Modeselektor’s talent for bridging the gap between hip-hop and the rave. The title track reunites the Berlin duo with Flohio, who first appeared on their 2018 single Wealth. Social Distancing is the end result, and while the swaggering cut could easily carry an EP on its own, Modeselektor have decided to up the ante by inviting a talented crew of friends and colleagues to put their own spin on the track.
Brainfeeder affiliate Little Snake transforms Social Distancing with his corroded beats and playful sound design, while looking closer to home in Berlin, Modeselektor tapped frequent partners in crime (and Spandau natives) FJAAK, who cooked up a rowdy bass-techno hybrid.
Like all good hip-hop EPs, Social Distancing comes with an acapella version of the title track, but here, Flohio’s rhymes have been maniacally stretched, smashed and warped by veteran producer Richard Devine. Rounding out the record is Social Engineering, a sleazy, static-laced techno reimagining of Social Distancing. It’s a lot of fun, which makes sense, because even after all these years in the music game, having a good time is still Modeselektor’s primary m.o.
A1. Social Distancing feat. Flohio A2. Social Distancing feat. Flohio (Little Snake Remix) B1. Social Distancing feat. Flohio (FJAAK Remix) B2. Social Engineering feat. Flohio (Ad Lip Edit) B3. Social Distancing feat. Flohio (Richard Devine A Cappella Edit)