Mechanical Apfelsine are a Russian three-piece synthpop act that sound a lot like Depeche Mode, and I mean that in the best sense possible.
Put simply, DM’s 2009 album Sounds Of The Universe was a good album, but it wasn’t all it could have been and the album as a whole didn’t grab me anywhere near as Violator, Ultra or Playing The Angel. For me it was a mixture of many of the tracks not being particularly memorable and the pace of the album being on the more ponderous side.
The same cannot and should not be said about MA’s 2009 album Space Without End, because it is a much better album. Most of the songs kick along at a fair pace with 90s synthpop rhythms throughout and the 90s synth rhythms are what really make this album for me. So much so that “Seven Sins” could very easily pass for an Songs Of Faith And Devotion-era DM B-side. Well, most of the album could.
: : Mechanical Apfelsine – New Day
: : Mechanical Apfelsine – Seven Sins
MA dropped a demo version of the album for all and sundry to pick up for free, which you can conveniently retrieve from here.
Sure it does get kinda europoppy in parts and yes the Russian accent does often roll through the Dave Gahan-like vocals, but I’m really digging this album.
Show them some love. Their myspace looks like they could use it.
Mechanical Apfelsine @ myspace
Tags: Depeche Mode, Mechanical Apfelsine