Motorik: Klang!

Bouncy but not too beefy, Motorik hit the ground running on an infectious quasi-garage-meets-dance-rock groove on “Or So I Thought” which should not be second-guessed at all. The trio — guitarist Adrian Garver, drummer Hoagie Gero and bassist/vocalist Sio — have a sense of urgency on the songs and that comes through in their performances. This is also apparent on the galloping Cure-ish “Box of Knives” and similar but deliberate “Six Filters” with Sio embodying her inner Robert Smith. But it’s the passion and power packing “Robert Palmer” which moves things to another level — tight, angular and groove-riddled. While “It’s Just Sugar” isn’t as sweet as one would desire, Motorik return with “First Rule” that seems to mix the best of Franz Ferdinand, Joy Division and the Rapture. Although the album tends to revisit the same style time and time again, Motorik are able to make it work, er, klang quite well.