Iron Curtis, Johannes Albert - Moon I (2020)

Welcome to "Moon I", the raw, quirky yet emotional and hugely overlooked debut album from iron Curtis & Johannes Albert - reissued for 2020. The Berlin based duo have put much effort into making this album a true listening experience without sacrificing their roots in House Music. Moon I (originally titled "Industrie & Zärtlichkeit") effortlessly achieves what is claimed in its title, namely a fusion of seemingly disparate elements: the rough and the smooth, dirty beats and soothing harmonies, bizarre sounds and comforting chords. The title track is a fine example of this perfectly-dosed blend with its detuned strings that glide over a crisp electro beat and an infectious melody which would make Kraftwerk proud. "Cafe Del Landwehrkanal" is a lighthearted and kinky gem while "Light Of Virtue" combines warm synth pads (Detroit is not far) with dusty drums and an acid bassline. "MFB Nights" and "Machine Rhythm Tomorrow" are also illustrations of the duo's undeniable savoir-faire, with the former celebrating garage classics thanks to its cheeky vocal sample and gorgeous rhodes chords while the latter plays out as a dedication to the early 90's, a time when people didn't care about genres and just dived in the novelty of electronic dance music.
But as we all know, there is a dark and secret side of the Moon, an aspect which is best expressed via the freaky organ chords of "Proto" and its detuned melody. Not to mention the excellent ambient pieces "Fjordig" or "The Bitter End" which showcase the duo's ability to venture into uncharted territory.
All in all, "Moon I" feels like drinking fresh orange juice gently sparkled with chilli.