Von Sudenfed

Von Sudenfed is the musical collaboration between Andi Tomi & Jan St. Werner, who trade under their more familar name of Mouse On Mars, and Mark E Smith, who has been one of the most creative voices for three decades as the leader of The Fall. Together, they have produced one of the finest musical surprises of the year in Tromatic Reflexxions (coming out in June). "Fledermaus Can't Get It," appropriately both the album's opener and its first single, wraps Smith's urgent delivery in a corrosive funk. "The Rhinohead" veers closest to Fall territory with its rockin' "Keep Me Hangin' On" soul stomp. Pursuant to that, Mark E. recounts a night where he hijacks a Sven Vath DJ set and the club gets "Flooded" with the sounds of robotic garage and bass emanations. "That Sound Wiped," a reconstituted version of the collaboration that gave birth to this project, could have rubbed shoulders at the Paradise Garage with Tom Tom Club and Larry Levan.

The music is simultaneously visceral and cerebral, both some of the catchiest material from Andi and Jan and some of the finest poetry from Mark since the turn of the century. Around every corner (or CD index), there's a wealth of surprises as both parties seem completely liberated by the collaboration, Mark's punctual delivery flourishing in the club and disco inflections and the music finding new depth and dimension with the constant narrative companionship.