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CD
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MONKEY 122CD
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For bands, a "hiatus" is usually just a polite way of announcing a break-up, but sometimes, a hiatus is just that -- a hiatus. Back in 2017, when Moderat announced that they'd be taking an extended break following a final concert in their hometown of Berlin, many assumed that the group was basically calling it quits. After all, they'd already completed a celebrated trilogy of albums, repeatedly broken into the pop charts and performed all around the globe (including Mainstage sets at some of the world's biggest festivals including Coachella, Roskilde, Rock Werchter, Glastonbury, Primavera, Sónar. and many many more) -- what else was left for the German trio to accomplish? Moderat, however, always knew that they'd find their way back to one another. MORE D4TA, the group's fourth album, arrives more than six years after its predecessor (2016's III), yet its contents are quintessentially Moderat. Although the trio's hiatus was absolutely real -- exhausted after years of touring, Apparat (aka Sascha Ring) and Modeselektor (aka Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary) spent two years away from one another, focusing instead on their own respective projects -- once they decided to resume working together, the music (eventually) started flowing again. It wasn't an easy process. It's never been easy for Moderat, an outfit who tellingly titled their debut EP Auf Kosten Der Gesundheit (translation: At the Cost of Health) and then needed seven years to put together a follow-up. Back in those days, the group's members were essentially remixing each other, but over time, they've gradually developed into a proper band, writing together and developing a workflow that's totally distinct from their other projects. (In a band where all three members are artists, producers and mixing engineers, striking that sort of creative balance is trickier than it might seem.) Created largely during a time when touring (and most traveling) was off the table, MORE D4TA is an album that wrestles with feelings of isolation and information overload -- issues that have become particularly pronounced. Many of its lyrics are rooted in Ring's frequent trips to Berlin's Gemäldegalerie museum (often with his infant daughter in tow), where he'd seek refuge in the great paintings of the past while worrying about the future.
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LP
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MONKEY 122LP
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LP version. For bands, a "hiatus" is usually just a polite way of announcing a break-up, but sometimes, a hiatus is just that -- a hiatus. Back in 2017, when Moderat announced that they'd be taking an extended break following a final concert in their hometown of Berlin, many assumed that the group was basically calling it quits. After all, they'd already completed a celebrated trilogy of albums, repeatedly broken into the pop charts and performed all around the globe (including Mainstage sets at some of the world's biggest festivals including Coachella, Roskilde, Rock Werchter, Glastonbury, Primavera, Sónar. and many many more) -- what else was left for the German trio to accomplish? Moderat, however, always knew that they'd find their way back to one another. MORE D4TA, the group's fourth album, arrives more than six years after its predecessor (2016's III), yet its contents are quintessentially Moderat. Although the trio's hiatus was absolutely real -- exhausted after years of touring, Apparat (aka Sascha Ring) and Modeselektor (aka Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary) spent two years away from one another, focusing instead on their own respective projects -- once they decided to resume working together, the music (eventually) started flowing again. MORE D4TA is an album that wrestles with feelings of isolation and information overload -- issues that have become particularly pronounced. Many of its lyrics are rooted in Ring's frequent trips to Berlin's Gemäldegalerie museum (often with his infant daughter in tow), where he'd seek refuge in the great paintings of the past while worrying about the future.
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LP
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MONKEY 122DLXLP
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On tour in the US now! LP version. 180 gram vinyl deluxe edition. For bands, a "hiatus" is usually just a polite way of announcing a break-up, but sometimes, a hiatus is just that -- a hiatus. Back in 2017, when Moderat announced that they'd be taking an extended break following a final concert in their hometown of Berlin, many assumed that the group was basically calling it quits. After all, they'd already completed a celebrated trilogy of albums, repeatedly broken into the pop charts and performed all around the globe (including Mainstage sets at some of the world's biggest festivals including Coachella, Roskilde, Rock Werchter, Glastonbury, Primavera, Sónar. and many many more) -- what else was left for the German trio to accomplish? Moderat, however, always knew that they'd find their way back to one another. MORE D4TA, the group's fourth album, arrives more than six years after its predecessor (2016's III), yet its contents are quintessentially Moderat. Although the trio's hiatus was absolutely real -- exhausted after years of touring, Apparat (aka Sascha Ring) and Modeselektor (aka Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary) spent two years away from one another, focusing instead on their own respective projects -- once they decided to resume working together, the music (eventually) started flowing again. MORE D4TA is an album that wrestles with feelings of isolation and information overload -- issues that have become particularly pronounced. Many of its lyrics are rooted in Ring's frequent trips to Berlin's Gemäldegalerie museum (often with his infant daughter in tow), where he'd seek refuge in the great paintings of the past while worrying about the future.
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2x10"
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MONKEY 039EP
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The song "Last Time," previously only available on the limited deluxe CD edition of the overwhelmingly successful sophomore Moderat album II, was always meant to be the third single release. The song celebrates its vinyl debut on this double 10" alongside an instrumental version, an alternate version, as well as the only guest remix by Jon Hopkins. Coinciding with the beginning of the album world tour, "Last Time" is a perfect example of exquisite indie-pop from an album that you just can't deny on many levels.
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12"
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50WRMX 009EP
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In late 2012, Modeselektor and Apparat came together to reform their Moderat project. When the Moderat debut album was released on BPitch Control in 2009, Modeselektor decided to release an unofficial remix 12" on their newly-formed 50 Weapons imprint featuring remixes by Shackleton, Headhunter and T++. To follow this ritual, Moderat invited their friends Shed and Marcel Dettmann to contribute remixes for the new album II. Again released as unofficial remixes, out of the regular line of singles on Monkeytown Records, you can enjoy two stunning techno reworks by two of the world's best producers.
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10"
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MONKEY 037EP
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Second single taken from the album II, pressed on 10" vinyl in a picture sleeve -- playtime each side, 4:22 minutes. The album pre-single "Bad Kingdom" was named "an impressive piece of electronic pop music" and "their strongest production to date." The second single "Gita," in comparison, takes a much more introverted approach and reflects the more gentle and melancholic side of the project. You won't get it out of your head very easily. Hardly anybody has brought electronic music from Berlin to the farthest-flung corners of the world with more passion and enthusiasm than Modeselektor and Apparat. Individually or united as Moderat, they have continuously toured the world, grown a loyal and dedicated fan base and have continued to amaze with quality releases all the way.
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10"
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MONKEY 034EP
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For this 10" single Moderat have chosen the enchanting "Bad Kingdom," a song that perfectly unites the two main musical elements of their project: pop and club.
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DVD/CD
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BPC 200DVD
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Deluxe CD/DVD version of Moderat's debut full-length release on BPitch Control. The CD contains 2 bonus tracks not on the original CD release; one features rapper Busdriver, the other is a remix by Shackleton. The DVD contains high-class videos for 6 of the album tracks, as well as 4 interludes of about 1 minute -- approximately 40 minutes of full HD video content. It is produced by Pfadfinderei, the guys that create nearly all of BPitch's artwork and visuals, who will also be part of every Moderat live show as they are now for Modeselektor. Same packaging as the regular CD, with a 6-panel digipak. The DVD is NTSC format, region-free.
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CD
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BPC 200CD
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This is the highly-anticipated debut full-length release by Moderat, the collaborative conjoining of Modeselektor and Apparat. Moderat's formation began back in 2002 when Sascha Ring (aka Apparat) and Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary (aka Modeselektor) recorded an EP for the record label BPitch Control. A short time later, the artists went their separate ways to work on their own full-length albums -- Modeselektor's debut, Hello Mom!, and Apparat's collaboration with Ellen Allien, Orchestra Of Bubbles. Each went on to become successful releases and were followed by two career-defining albums for the individual acts. A twist of fate at the Stadtbad Mitte (Berlin-Mitte City Pool) united them in the spring of 2008, and Moderat was reformed. Recorded at the legendary Berlin Hansa Studios (where David Bowie recorded Heroes) in analog with the help of the studio's vintage tube technology and an old EMI console from 1972, restored especially for Moderat. American software designer, Joshua Kit Clayton, was hired to program a superb reverb algorithm specifically for the recording process of this album. Additionally, during the first phases of recording, Szary and Bronsert bought an EMT Model 140 Plate Reverb on an Internet auction and had to travel to Los Angeles to pick it up. Back in the studio, the Berlin vocalist Dellé (aka Eased) from leading German act Seeed found himself in Moderat's studio room while on a quest to find a bottle opener. There on the spot, the three gents of Moderat finally waved good-bye to the concept of a mere instrumental album and said hello to vocal recordings and the song "Sick With It." At the same time, they found older vocal recordings of Paul St. Hilaire that had been recorded by Szary and Bronsert way back on low-noise 1/4" analog tape. Those recordings are what led to the low growl of "Slow Match." All this encouraged Szary and Bronsert to convince Ring it was time for him to contribute a beautiful set of soft vocals, which can be heard on the moody drone of "Rusty Nails" and on the flickering synth-wash of "Out Of Sight." Seven years after their initial formation, Moderat's self-titled debut makes it sound like these fellas have been working closely together for years -- and the analog production gives these tracks a steady, glowing warmth that pulses and breathes organically. Totally seductive, dark dance tunes that possess an almost tribal disposition for the most intense peak moments. This is a massive debut that unites two of techno's most celebrated acts.
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