Moving On: Tears and Big, Big Smiles

Emotion is expressed with only the mildest of reluctance; the angst shows through, along with a pain that goes beyond words alone. There is the maturity and reflection behind this album that comes with decades of experiencing it for real. Rations is able to depict tragedy in the happiest and most uplifting of ways. This music is a weapon to fight back. 

Set in the context of our number-orientated existence, the band has a much more complex sound these days, but the mix is cleaner, and the different elements of the Kraftwerk synthesised whole are easily distinguishable. This album paints a truer picture of working class life than many of us probably feel comfortable to admit to. The messages contained in these songs seems to be “well, that’s the way it is, folks,” as the vocals are sardonically echoed by the keyboards. The band come across as comfortable with themselves; notice, how the song simply drifts, rather than step, into the choruses. Along with the new, more subtle, vocal delivery, the songs are full of pathos and sarcasm, is such a clever statement about the fragility of relationships.

I’m slowly caressed and converted by these songs. The depth of the orchestral accompaniments is just beautiful and there’s such a sweet description in the lyrics about how fumbling fear, anxiety and blind optimism can be in a relationship’s doing or undoing. – Retro Stefano