NO COMMENT BEST OF 1992-2004 DOUBLE COMPILATION ALBUM NANOPOP RELEASE: APRIL 22, 2002 REVIEW: JUNE 10, 2002

I liked the first version of No Comment when I was 15 or 16 years old. The German quartet made music resembling Front 242, but integrated disguised synthpop moods and melodies. Listening to their early material today I realise what made them appealing to me. At the same time it's a powerful reminder of how my taste in music has evolved. Some tracks of theirs will always be classics in my head, while parts of their body of work can no longer win me over.
It's a bit scattered, this compilation of material form 1992 to 2004, but first things first. This double album release features a password so that buyers will be able to download new tracks exclusively off the band web site until the year 2004.
With the entrance of vocalist Franziska Kalb, the music went through a gradual transition into more straight forward pop or synthpop from being more edgy EBM flavoured stuff. In my ears, they are two entirely different bands. The album is scattered because it features both versions of the band.
The "exclusive remix"-based content on this "best of" will please the hardcore fans, as will tracks off their out of print first EP "Harmony". The latest single "It's Not Too Late" is a vibrant display of synthpoppish playfulness and clever song writing. This is where I hope the band is heading. Toning down Kalb's vocals would also do them good, as they are too loud and feel somewhat separated from the music.

NIKLAS FORSBERG