Heavy Day

Falko Brocksieper's work tends towards the refined side of electronic music in the 21st century — without following the trends towards neo-space rock/disco that any number of groups and performers have pursued. There's something about his spare style of Detroit-and-after techno which calls to mind elegant contemplation as much as it does the dancefloor. Heavy Day is,as a result,low-key, often enjoyable, not mellow enough to be a total snooze but definitely not hyperactive — it is not a truly distinct album through and through, but its high points, when they arrive, make for enjoyable listening. "The Whole Story" is where the album first fully settles into a good spot, with the way that the soft keyboards and the bass gives its ghost-of-late-'80s sound a dreamier focus, fuzzy around the edges. Similar numbers throughout reach the same aesthetic level, though to be fair not always with the same impact; however, it always makes for a good if not a fully involving listen. Three vocal guest turns help to vary the album's sound further, the most successful of which is Richard Davis' performance on "Emotional Support," possibly the album's highlight thanks in particular to an excellent chorus. Big Bully's track "What You Like" is pleasant enough but the arrangement doesn't do much to complement and develop his singing, while Mia — not MIA, as might be initially thought on a quick scan of the credits — is barely there at all on "Face It."