Gravity

Again proving themselves the cream of Berlin's experimental underground, Monolake's Robert Henke and Gerhard Behles (the latter taking a slightly diminished role) produced a set of eight stellar tracks, some previously released on vinyl. Most of the songs on Gravity have a steady backbeat, and the second track, "Ice," hits pretty hard for something from the Chain Reaction school, despite the whispered vocals throughout. Still, Monolake focus as much on the atmospheres created by their effects as on the effects themselves, resulting in deep, shadowy productions like "Mobile," with its off-step, processed steel drums, and a return to the classic Chain Reaction sound on "Frost." The crackling electrical storm on "Static" makes it a highlight as well, and Gravity shows Monolake making steady progression beyond the sound they helped trademark without ever deserting it completely.