Pink Eyed Pony by Crane A.K. outlet NEUF

Tracks:
Beyond the Flow
Ancient Astronaut (Edit) - (Edit)
Servo Pop
Polsterplanet
Rangerbobby
Electrothermid
Tiefausl„ufer
White Pic
Conrads Friend
Slowdive
Off

Performer Notes:

• Crane A.K.: Markus Gniech, Michael Friedrich.
• After a series of successful 12" EPs for Force Tracks, Crane A.K. released Pink Eyed Pony, their first full-length release. Unlike the two previous Force Tracks full-lengths, though -- Luomos Vocal City and MRIs Rhythmogenesis -- Pink Eyed Pony isnt a seamless listen. Where those two albums stuck with their minimal house sound from beginning to end with almost undetectable transitions, Crane A.K. presents a somewhat varied array of songs on their full-length. Some songs such as "Polsterplanet" indulge in a slight sense of melody and a greater sense of elation, while other songs such as "Electrothermid" lock themselves into a tracky rhythm and chug along without many dynamics. After hearing all 11 songs on the album, the former songs with an emphasis on melody and dynamics -- "Ancient Astronaut (Edit)," "Tiefausl„ufer," "Conrads Friend" -- tend to be the albums most pleasant moments, as they ease away from minimal techno trackiness, instead drifting closer toward opiate ambient house. The latter track-based songs arent necessarily of poor quality, though; in fact, they should work wonders for inventive DJs on the dancefloor. But when it comes to relaxed listening, the more melodic songs clearly stand out. For some, it will be easy to criticize the duo for offering a mixed bag of minimal tech-house songs that tend to fall on either one side of the divide or the other in terms of feel; most, though, should welcome this same sense of variety. Crane A.K. isnt short on grand ideas, as this full-length effectively proves. Overall, Pink Eyed Pony stands as both an accomplished summation of the Berlin duos near-flawless work to this point and the third excellent Force Tracks full-length in a row. ~ Jason Birchmeier

Format: CD (1 Disc); Stereo

Country: USA

Studio/Live: Studio

Release Date: 12 February, 2001

Label: Force Tracks