The chameleonic Robin Taylor adds another color to his patchwork oeuvre. Deutsche Schule! (its quite obvious, non-speakers of German) draws its life's blood from '70s-era Krautrock, specifically Can, Faust and the more keyboard/electronics-based Neu! and Kraftwerk. The nostalgic quirk and candidness of the sounds and arrangements are equalized, often needlessly, by ever-present Taylor collaborator Karsten Vogel's improvised solos on alto, soprano and tenor saxes (which tend to mimic keyboard parts at times). Piano, Hammond and Roland JV-2080 tones circumnavigate sequenced percussion and impromptu FX, said elements congealing into a seemingly logical whole — while barely a snare drum and synth melody effect "Misch Musch." A toy piano and vibes lend a somber air on "Noch Ein Zahnartzt" that is augmented by a mousey alto sax solo and vocal gurglings courtesy of Taylor and Louise Nipper. Another honest mistake surfaces on "Neue Stimmen": Vogel's break consists of copious frenzied notes where a precomposed line would conform to the track's rigid sequencing (not all would agree). The most linear piece, so to speak, would arguably be "Gesang Der Tauben" with its lack of sax and robot-vox that recall THX-1138. Over nine minutes and in three "acts," "Das Experiment" easily ranks as the album's choice cut, and consists of backwards samples, chaotic sax (which works best in this format), a stark industrial sequence, and manic drumming by Rasmus Grosell — and that's just the first half. Gradually, Deutsche Schule! will bubble to the surface layer of Taylor's discography as fans of Krautrock, Berlin School and general retro come to fancy its charm.
Tracklist:
1. Misch Musch (5:18)
2. Eisenbahn Mit Sauerkraut (4:26)
3. Karl Spielt Klavier (5:12)
4. Noch Ein Zahnartzt (6:21)
5. Neue Stimmen (8:26)
6. Gesang Der Tauben (6:01)
7. Das Experiment (9:15)
Total time – 44:59
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