Ellington

Germany's newest whiz kid offers up a plate of electronic shoegaze and synth driven dance pop (or synthgaze) that is a lush feast for the ears. Where M83 is heavily influenced by my bloody valentine, Ulrich Schnauss takes his cue primarily from Slowdive. However, elements of my bloody valentine can be heard along with Boards of Canada, Cocteau Twins and early Clan of Xymox. The main difference between M83 and Ulrich is his propensity for melody, as evidenced by the perfect placement of DJ beats to augment the shimmering synth lines contained therein. A very solid release and a best of 2004 contender!! Reviewed by Alex Slawson and Herman Snell