Album Review: Robocop Kraus — Smile
Let’s move quickly beyond the band name; it makes no sense to me, but then I’m not German. Robocop Kraus’ latest – their first release in 15 years – is scintillating pop that recalls ‘80s alternarock, British variant. There’s a highly propulsive vibe to the songs on Smile, speeding along as they do like a musical version of the sleek and high speed tilting trains that crisscross the European continent. Throbbing arpeggiated synthesizers gleam and glisten, but they’re applied inside arrangement that offer plenty of guitars and (presumably) real drums giving the whole affair a more organic feel than it might otherwise have. Subtle echoes of early ‘70s motorik make themselves known on cuts like “On Repeat,” but the chiming pop values of the song render it more accessible than Neu! can be.
Robocop Kraus has a sharp sense of humor. The track “Cradle of Filth” is about an encounter with one of the worst bands ever to exist (or so say I, anyway). And any song that features a refrain of “to hell with Nazi scum” is a winner. The same is true of the album’s outlier, an amphetamine-paced punker called “The Foul Stench of Our Time.” It’ll conjure mental images of Jello Biafra. The record as a whole, though, is decidedly more melodious than odious, and is thus recommended.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.