List | B | The Balanescu Quartet | 'Possessed' CD 1992

Track:	Name:	Time:
1.	Robots	8:40
2.	Model	3:44
3.	Autobahn	6:19
4.	Computer Love	6:17
5.	Pocket Calculator	3:45
6.	Possessed	16:51
7.	Want Me	7:40
8.	No Time Before Time	11:01
9.	Hanging Upside-Down	4:55
	Total	69:34

Comments:

The Balanescu Quartet is a string quartet a little out of the ordinary. Here they do their own versions of five Kraftwerk classics, along with three of their own compositions and a David Byrne (of the Talking Heads) song. Naturally, I bought this album for the Kraftwerk 'covers'. So how are they?

Well, it seems Mr. Balanescu and friends started with the re-made versions from The Mix, apart from 'The Model' (which wasn't on that compilation). I would have preferred "new versions of the old versions", so to speak, since the melodies and arrangements were a bit different, but this is fine too. It's actually quite strange to hear Kraftwerk, the ultimate hi-tech band, being played by a string quartet. It works, but it's a bit odd. The tracks the turned out the best were 'The Model' and 'Computer Love', with 'Autobahn' as a close follower, all three very melodic pieces. I would have loved to hear a Balanescu version of the old style 'Pocket Calculator', since I much prefer that version to the one from 'The Mix'. Still, it's fun to hear to Rumanian accent of Alexander Balanescu speaking the lines "I'm the operator...", especially knowing the original was with a German accent. It's also a joy to hear the Kraftwerk trademark super-electronic quirky sound effects reproduced with violins, a viola and a cello.

So what about their own works? Hmm... I'll better listen to them some more before I comment on that. As an initial reflection, I can keep myself from thinking of a non-electric version of the Fleshquartet (probably the ultimate odd string quartet). Some thought also stray to the Finnish quartet Apocalyptica, known for their versions of Metallica songs.

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