Dekorder label boss Marc Richter keeps churning out those retro-krautrock drone monsters we started to get used to a couple of records ago. While the first Black to Comm CD on Dekorder was more on the experimental electronica side, any record since then has been moving more and more into straight drone territory. On "Fractal Hair Geometry“, Richter leaves the exploration of subtle changes in one-tone-drones again and adds some more aspects to it.

The CD begins with a big disappointment. "Negative Volumes“ has a great line-up with Renate Nikolaus, Jonna Karanka (Kuupuu) and Guido Mˆbius supporting Richter, but the wobbly drone coming out of the speakers simply isn’t pleasant to listen to. Luckily enough it gets better after that. Already the second track entitled "Orange Record“ brings the CD in the right direction. It’s equally hyperactive as the first one, but a lot more positive in look and feel. There are several continuous notes going through and a lot of glitching and what sounds like a thousand high pitched voices talking gibberish over it. Then comes "Play Eggchess 3“ which is a very solid drone track with a lot of variation and quite a massive feel to it (like e.g. Burning Star Core). The same goes for track no. 5 entitled "M.B. Memorial Building“ and track no. 7 entitled "Air Salon“. Richter still uses one continuous drone going through the entire track on those, but he adds enough "side effects“ to keep it interesting (apart maybe from the last tune which is a bit dull).

Tracks 4 and 6 differ a bit in that they’re more electronic sounding and quite similar to the loop-based techno produced by e.g. Neil Campbell (under his Astral Social Club moniker). While no. 4 "Leigh Bowery“ features a simple four to the floor beat, no. 6 "666909“ is beatless, but still has the aesthetics of a techno tune. All in all, "Fractal Heir Geometry“ further develops the droning territory that Richter has decided to explore and also further refines his ideas. But it seems that there’s still some room for improvement to arrive at that genre-defining album that Richter is certainly capable of making. 6/10 -- Stephan Bauer (15 October, 2008)