Verstarker / Hall / Kompressor / Echo

Muffled hammering grows rhythmical. An uncarpeted snare joins in, clicks and clacks, babbling, racing. Automat and Max Loderbauer open proceedings on Bureau B's Selekt label quite masterfully with an auspicious four-track EP: Verstärker/Hall/Kompressor/Echo. Automat, busy recording their second album, came across Max Loderbauer in the neighboring studio. They got along swimmingly and started working together straight away. "Everything played live, no overdubs," as Automat's bass player Georg Zeitblom confirms -- first take, no shake. The studio was stripped down to basics. No computers: a tape machine, guitar amplifier, analog EQs, rehearsal space. "Re-rewind, the crowd say Bo Selekter!"