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German trance-techno maven Sven Vath's follow-up to 1998's Fusion continues his abandonment of the impenetrable, quasiclassical themes that have marred other elements of his long career, instead putting to use his diverse talents in the genre. A blend of minimalist, Kraftwerkesque electro-cabaret and more straight-ahead techno, the record makes frequent use of Vath's voice, filtering it through all manner of bizarre effects and electronic manipulations. It can be unintentionally (or perhaps intentionally?) humorous at times, like in "Apricot," which threatens to become a toothless version of a forgotten Einstürzende Neubauten song before flowering into a melodious second half. Other times, like in the spare, "robot-pop" keyboard rhythms of "Pathfinder," it's effective as an eerie counterpoint to the song's sneaky, slowly building momentum. Meanwhile, the driving, seedy disco beats of songs like "Dein Schweiss (Your Sweat)" and "Once More..." would sound at home in the dirtiest of Berlin's underground nightclubs, circa 1978. As long as Vath keeps us off balance, the record displays a unique sense of imagination that more techno artists could stand to have in their arsenal. --Matthew Cooke