Moderat-First Listen of NEW ALBUM II NOW

MODERAT – II   STREAMING NOW AT NPR MUSIC’S “FIRST LISTEN”   RELEASED AUG 6, 2013     Today we are excited to partner with NPR and present Moderat’s new album, II , in its entirety via their “First Listen” series. Listen as Modeselektor’s thundering bass rumbles in the cellar and Apparat’s sensitive, subtle melodies float high in the eaves. In the space of eleven tracks, Moderat present a varied, but nonetheless compact and epic tale.   “The German dance music duo Modeselektor makes music that can knock your head off its axis. Electronic producer Sascha Ring, better known as Apparat, has made the kind of stuff that buries your heart deep in your gut. Moderat, the project that unites these two seemingly disparate energies, finds a sweet spot that resonates with both body and mind.” -NPR Music   Moderat are Apparat (Sascha Ring) and Modeselektor (Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary). Both acts represent the Berlin electronic scene from the other side of the straight bass drum. On one side, there is Apparat, the thoughtful purveyor of sophisticated electronic pop music, and on the other, Modeselektor, the grand masters of subterranean bass and electrifying breakbeat. Together, the extreme contrast between Modeselektor’s throbbing bass and tricky beats and Apparat’s delicate vocals have created the unique Moderat vibe. Five years have passed since the release of their debut album and all three find themselves in new situations, assuming new responsibilities: as band leader (Apparat) and as label makers and dads (Modeselektor). The spectrum is an emotional one, and one that has increased stylistically. There is no longer a prevailing tone.   LISTEN to MODERAT’S II via NPR’s “First Listen” HERE   READ XLR8R’s “From Studio To Stage: Moderat” Interview HERE   Moderat is currently working on a new live show for their upcoming tour. Together with their long-time friends and visual artists collective Pfadfinderei, they are aiming to change the idea of what a live performance is. Usually, the best place to experience a show is from the front or near the center of the venue, however, Moderat and Pfadfinderei want to create an experience where different, interesting things happen at various places throughout the venue. Experience this live come August 28th in select cities in North America.   MODERAT TOUR DATES   8.28.13 - Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theater   8.29.13 - Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia   8.31.13 -- New York, NY @ Electric Zoo   9.01.13 - Montreal, QC @ Société Des Arts Technologies   Watch Moderat’s video for “Bad Kingdom”   Watch Moderat discuss their new album II   “odd and exhilarating . . . ” – The New York Times   “a healthy creative symbiosis that accentuates the best parts of their individual styles.” – Pitchfork   “lush and introspective, but still heavy-hitting” – XLR8R                “Moderat is a rich, emotionally resonant piece…”                          – Time Out New York   “Moderat’s songs occupy new ground—a territory where the spacious warmth of ambient music and the claustrophobic chill that typifies dubstep can live in harmony. . . this remarkably fluid music proves the group is interested in becoming greater than the considerable sum of its parts.” – The A.V. Club     Moderat: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Interview | Experiment