Tarwater's Animals, Suns & Atoms is yet another frequently fascinating LP from the Berlin duo, a combination of odd sounds and rhythms overlaid with a quintessentially European sense of decadent pop classicism. As on Silur, the sound is closer to Krautrock or dub than straight-ahead electronics; most tracks have heavily echoed down-tempo drum programs with guitar pickings, spare piano lines, and various unrecognizable samples creating a dense backing. There's also a preponderance of vocal tracks; though occasionally endearing (check "All of the Ants Left Paris"), Lippok's vocals are hit-or-miss, and a few excellent productions are weighed down by his monotone Lou Reed fixation. Still, the Ween-on-Ecstasy style of "Early Risers" makes it a highlight, and though Animals, Suns & Atoms isn't an immediately rewarding album, the duo's skewed, ambitious production aesthetic makes more sense after several listens. -- John Bush
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