Stromkern “Stand Up” CD Single WTII Records www.stromkern.com

A few weeks ago I went to a futurepop show (specifically VNV Nation in Detroit) when I heard a song being played during the pre-set music that grabbed my attention.  I turned to my friend and asked him who it was, but he didn't know.  It was definitely either EBM or futurepop, and the vocals sounded sort of like Pop Will Eat Itself (circa "Dos Dedos Mis Amigos"). Not knowing the song I tried to remember the lyrics as best I could so that I could do a search for it later but the only thing that I remembered after the show was a fragment,  something about coming from the left and then from the right.  I became slightly obsessed and posted to a message board for the VNV show asking if anyone knew what the song was.

No one knew.

Then, a couple of weeks later I received my monthly package from The Great Nothing with CDs to review.  I popped in the first CD and right away I recognized the track that I had been looking for: "Stand Up" by Stromkern, the first single from their forthcoming full-length release "Light It Up."

I mention all of the above because it belies the inherent nature of the single: it's overwhelmingly infectious.  The track is far beyond catchy; in short, it is pure futurepop goodness, oozing rivet head love from every note.  It's driving and dancey, yet strong and unrelenting.  It's everything that futurepop is supposed to be without becoming hyperbole, building on the "future" aspect and emphasizing the "pop."

But what does it sound like?  The track begins with streaking, high-pitched synths as the lead singer begins a near rap, calling out to the people on the left, the right, the front, and the back to "stand up."  The synths drop off and the beat starts in as the rapping converts to a snarl, the beat growing steadily as it moves to the refrain, which is the same call out from the beginning as the synths return.  The second verse adds sampled (or perhaps synthesized) guitar riffs to the mix, which gives the song more of an edge.  The repetition of the call out adds to the songs infectious nature, the beats begging one to begin dancing.  It's nearly impossible not to begin moving after the music begins.

The next track is an extended version of the first, giving an extra helping of what was experienced the first time around.  From there the group slows things down "Can't Believe," a traditional EBM/futurepop song that lacks the energy and drive of the single's A-side.  It's now terrible, it's just that "Stand Up" leaves the listener on such a high it's hard to come down that much.  Then again, it is a B-side for a reason.  

Next is the "Irix Remix" of the title track, which is a competent mix but again doesn't capture the energy and urgency of the original.

The last track, "Night Riders (Reiter Der Nacht Remix Von Boole)," is an electronic tour de force, morphing itself through seemingly different mixes through the course of its 11 minutes, all distinct yet maintaining the cohesion of the whole.  It begins with soft synths and dreamy, distant vocals before accelerating the beat steadily over three minutes into the song, swirling into a Burton-esque carnival ride for the middle third, then launching headfirst into a fury of sound eight minutes in.  It is here that the band once again recapture the excitement they created on the first two tracks.

It's hard to gauge an album or a group based on just a single, but when a release is this strong it's hard not to expect great things. I eagerly await the release of "Light It Up."

Key Tracks: Stand Up, Night Riders (Reiter Der NachtRemix Von Boole

Copyright © Michael A. Diaz