Second album time already for Automat, the Berlin trio who only came to our attention on Bureau B last year with their self-titled debut. This time not a great deal has changed in respect of the minimal track titles and imposing cover art, but there are developments afoot in their style, moving ever closer to a dub-based approach. In that sense it works really well, because Plusminus has quite a bit of tension in its lower end, so to speak, whether in the booming bass of ‘Schlachtensee’ or the increased energy of ‘TXL’. The emphasis on rhythm and Krautrock flavouring lends the music an energetic and primal quality, and both these things are better appreciated at high volume. Definitely worth an hour of your time.
4 out of 5
Reviewed by Ben Hogwood
{http://soundcloud.com/bureau-1/sets/automat-plusminus-snippets}
