by Russ Marshalek

Pop vocalist turned electro-tech diva, Ada, follows up a string of lush 12" releases on Areal records with her first full-length LP, Blondie. Deep, dark and emotional, Blondie builds upon the minimal tech-house feel of Ada classics like "Lifedriver" (included here in a remixed form that accentuates the pulsing bassline), while retaining the same quirky appeal that brought her into focus in the first place. Take, for instance, the CD-only track, "Who Pays The Bills?," on which Ada plays sultry Chrissie Hynde-crossed-Erykah Badu vocals over what is quite possibly the most unexpected Hammond organ breakdown to ever occur in the electronic music world. And then there's the album's biggest surprise, and the track that you're certain to hear approximately five seconds after you read this: Ada's swirling, ambient cover of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's "Maps." Screw Karen O, Ada takes the song and wraps her synth lines and soft voice around it like she paid the mortgage on the damn thing. And thus, with the release of Blondie, we see what could possibly launch Ada to the level of Ellen Allien, Michael Mayer, and others pushing the minimal, vocal, electro/tech/house fusion forward.

My Parade
by Ellen Allien
Track Listing:

1. Always
2. Electron
3. Relax Your Body
4. Fancy Theme Keys of Life [Jörg Mager Edit]
5. Squance
6. Bang Bang - Ellen Allien
7. Modeselektor's Rave Anthem
8. Cheap Thrills
9. Numb
10. Mantra - CJ Bolland
11. Dresden - Ellen Allien
12. Vulture's End
13. Plash - Andre Estermann