If it felt inevitable 12 years ago when Modeselektor (Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary) joined their bass-heavy warble and quirk to the eclectic emotional offerings of Apparat (Sascha Ring) to create the aptly named Moderat, then it feels even more impressive now the trio are still running strong, embarking on a world tour with the release of their third full-length, simply titled III. Their latest offering confirms the act have found footing with their sound, as III revels in minimal electro glitch while an orchestral current weaves beautifully throughout, Ring's vocals lending soulful, poignant reflection not often found in contemporary electronic music.
With the exception of the odd moment of over-modulation, as in parts of "Intruder," Ring's heartfelt performance across III sheds light on one of the most powerful and underrated vocalists of the genre. That being said, though, the most impactful two tracks here are entirely instrumental, distinctly textured and heady, relying on their intricacies and irrepressible energy to overwhelm the listener: "Finder" has a slow build with thick blooms of percussion, while the urgency of "Animal Trails" is all-encompassing, the build punctuated with deep blasts of brass, jangling keys and a steamroller hook that infiltrates just as well, if not better, than vocals ever could.
