PATCHWORK 1996-1999

German band Electric Orange may delve into slowly unfolding and moody Krautrock atmospheres on their modern releases, but that wasn't quite always the case for the group! The core line-up of multi-instrumentalists Dirk Jan Müller and Dirk Bittner have been active with the project for almost three decades now, but during their early years, the duo were fusing retro-flavoured psych with Trip Hop, Drum'n'Bass and other related dance/trance electronic styles, through the use of analogue synthesizers, computers and samplers. Their new compilation, `Patchwork 1996-1999', provides a hypnotic and addictive overview of this unpredictable and fascinating early period.

A mix of rarities from obscure EP releases, oddities and unreleased curios, dating from around the time they were on the legendary underground Delirium Records label, `Patchwork 1996-1999' blends vintage and contemporary styles, always darting in different directions. There's chill-out, ambient, psychedelic and beat-driven electronic selections throughout the twenty-one pieces on offer, and while some parts are mere teasing fragments, others stretch out with an unhurried coolness as they fuse into a sixty-eight minute continuous whole.

Strident opener `Anihal' lurches in with a haziness, `Dance Music' is kitsch and playful, and slithering dark bass grooves through `Mocuba'. `A Slow One' is a head-bobbing saunter, the up-tempo `Kyoto Sacrifice' skitters with danger, and `Endstation (erste)' bristles with a sun-kissed dreaminess. `Abgerechnet' has an forceful hip-hop power, `Quantity' is a murkily drowsy trip-hopper, and `Secret Baby' alternatively thrums with menace and gloriously teems with liveliness.

Of the pieces that will particularly catch the ear of Krautrock purists, `Natural Electric' has a plodding and mellow Can- like groove, `Ambeins' fuses the pretty approach of parts of the first Harmonium LP from '74 with a gently slinking beat, and the eight-minute standout `N12' is a breathless space-music soar that reminds of Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream. `No Deal 1' and `2', `Transit Ins Jenseits' and `Some Day' are stunning droning interludes.

If you're worried with the mention of terms like "Trip-hop", "Trance", etc that this is some glossy, trendy or banal throwaway, think again. While this compilation may incorporate those styles, most of the various pieces retain that layer of lo-fi dirt, grit and edge that all the best Krautrock-related (and Electric Orange!) works should have. It even reveals hints of the later exploratory and experimental directions the band ventured into when wanting to create atmospheric music of more weight, mystery and power on their works over the last decade.

But really, just think of `Patchwork 1996-1999' as a trippy and cool psychedelic mix-tape to chill out to!

Three and a half stars.