Times

Wolfgang Flurs 2025 album Times functions as a continuation of his previous album, 2022s Magazine 1. On that album, the former Kraftwerk member reflected on his time as part of the pioneering group during the 70s and 80s, while collaborating with several new wave and techno artists who were directly inspired by the bands work. Times features several returning guests as well as a few other big names, and it offers a similar mixture of various shades of electro-pop. Detroit techno godfather Juan Atkins is featured on opening track "Posh," which is a pretty straightforward synth pop tune, and not nearly as clubby as some of the longer songs on the album. The spoken part in the middle of the track where Flur defines the word "posh" gets a little gimmicky and annoying, a common trait of the vocoder-heavy vocals on many of the albums other songs as well -- "Planet in Fever" has a section about climate change denial that uses the phrase "fake news." "Uber All" seems to be about sending people out into space to escape an overpopulated Earth, and its one of two tracks to feature Peter Hook on bass, as well as someone credited as Thomas Vangarde. (It was initially reported as being a pseudonym of Daft Punks Thomas Bangalter, but after the album was released, Bangalter claimed he wasnt involved with the album, and it was reported that Flur had been duped by someone on social media claiming to be Bangalter.) "Cinema" (with Fabrice Lig) is a more glossy, shimmering track with a hint of Detroit electro-funk, while "Far Away" and "Future One" (with NewMen) are a bit tougher and closer to industrial/EBM, and "Hildebrandlied" (with frequent collaborators U96) is a dark, trancey stomper. Neo-electro hero Anthony Rother guests on the bright, melodically strong "Property," while Victoria Port guests on the refreshing electro-R&B tune "Times." "Global Youth," continuing with the albums socially conscious theme, features Yellos Boris Blank, and it ends with a fast-talking vocal reminiscent of the Swiss groups seminal early single "Bostich." At least lyrically, Flur is trying to glance forward at the future on Times more than he did on his previous albums, which nostalgically referenced his past. Like his other albums, however, the songs themselves arent always exciting, as well-produced as they are. ~ Paul Simpson