I wish that just once somebody would make a "tribute" album that wasn't attempting to exude some holier than thou, because- you- haven't- heard- of- them- they- must- be- influential attitude. If I were making a tribute album, my liner notes would read something like this:

"When I was a kid, I had really awful taste in music, and though I'd love to forget those days, I'll always remember the first time I heard Rick Springfield sing that he wanted 'Jesse's Girl.' Also engrained in my memory is that inspirational Joe Esposito ditty 'You're The Best' from the tournament scene in 'The Karate Kid.' Ahh, the hours I spent practicing my crane kick in the back yard while those three triumphant words waxed on and waxed off in my mind. And finally, a couple years later when Poison brought tears to my eyes with their heartwrenching ballad, 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn.' Well, I'm getting all emotional, so I'd just like to say thanks to all of you, wherever you are."

But no! We're led to believe that all these artistes have no skeletons in their closets. I'm not buying it. In fact, I'm putting every exceptional performer who took part in A Homage to Neu! on notice that Shan Fowler's on to you. Oh yeah, baby. I'm on you like a cow on a salt lick, and I won't rest until every one of you admits that your musical education did not start with arty electronic music.

It would be nice if that's where everyone's education started, but not even Michael Rother, one- third of perhaps the least lauded but definitely most influential of early German electronic bands, didn't get his start in Neu! He and Klaus Dinger were Krafterwerkers, but experienced their creative apex after leaving the band and setting forth to compose idiosycratic soundscapes in Neu!

Rother-- or Mr. Big Shot as this tribute makes him out to be-- actually is a big shot, as it turns out. "Neutronics '98" sets the tone for the influenced participants on this album with its rainy static, morose melody and minimal percussion. Download's rendition of "Hallo Gallo" competes with the original in terms of looped relentlessness and hypnotism. It's almost enough to fool the common listener into believing that Neu! really did influence Download.

Later, Autechre makes a bouncy, left field number out of "Weissensee" that's as soothing as it is sinister, Sunroof makes a grand entry with a ridiculously catchy vocal track called "Hero," and the Legendary Pink Dots have their way with "Super." I guess I'm supposed to be frustrated with all these groups for getting all pretentious about their being hip to the sounds of Neu! But much to my disappointment, I don't feel anything but good vibes.

-Shan Fowler