Although never commercially up there with Mute's big boys like Depeche Mode, Erasure and Nick Cave, Colchester's NITZER EBB have been quietly influential in the 20 years or so since they formed in the wilds of, er, Colchester.
Certainly, their hard-edged Industrial/ Hardbeat sound is again becoming sought after as a new breed of retro savvy clubbers clamour for older strains of electronica and "Murderous" - the third in a series of 12" Ebb remixes comissioned by NovaMute (previously also including reshapings by Derrick May, Thomas P.Heckmann and The Hacker) - is a fine way to set the stage for Mute's soon-come NE retrospective double CD/DVD "Body Of Work" due this spring.
Your reviewer's been rather underwhelmed by some of Belfast DJ Phil Kieran's previous work, but "Murderous" (from Nitzer Ebb's 1986 purple patch) is one of his better efforts. Now sounding like sleek, bristling updated techno, Kieran nails the rhythm down with spikes ans ensures the vocal is used sparingly and effectively. Indeed, when the vocal does slide into full view, it's a manic cry from the streets and the "Don't back down!" catchline is dispatched with a nigh-on religious zeal.
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Flip the 12" and you get a further treat with LFO man Mark Bell's remix of "Control, I'm Here" - originally dating from October 1988. Admittedly it's a slightly less confrontational bugger, but it's still bubbly and abrasive, heavy on the hi-hat and chocka with grandiose synth lines zig-zagging all over the shop. In short, it's dark, filmic and still surprisingly contemporary.
Roll on Spring and that mooted compilation.
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