Melotron's follow-up to the breakthrough
Weltfrieden is a collection of deliberate, beat-persistent EBM dressed up with melodic sensibilities that wouldn't be out of place on a
BT record. This isn't a slight. U.S. versions of
Sternenstaub feature "Fogle Mir Ins Licht," a
Weltfrieden holdover with fabulous supporting vocals from
Technoir's
Julia Beyer. Her warm tones are a perfect foil to Andy Krueger's somewhat detached style, and scatter sunlight across the track's clattering sheet metal percussion. That mechanistic feel is never very far away on
Sternenstaub; it tinges the title track, and spills solvent all over the introduction of "Der Anfang." But
Melotron switches gears rapidly, dropping into a pulsating groove before breaking things wide open with a truly heartfelt chorus. Later, "Erwartungen" and "Wünch Mich Nicht Zurück" pull a similar trick, lightening up chilly drum programming and moody synths with hopeful melodies and more solid vocals from Krueger. Best might be "Manchmal," with its vintage electronica patter and downright breezy chorus. The first
Melotron release with solid U.S. distribution,
Sternenstaub should serve as a solid introduction to the band's nuanced blend of classic electronic body music and larger dancefloor realities. ~ Johnny Loftus