Lauer

For the follow-up his 2012 debut, Phillip Lauer defects from the Lorsch-based Running Back to Munich's Permanent Vacation. Stylistically aligned with its predecessor, 'Borndom' is rooted in classic electro, yet this time there's more influence drawn from 80s synth-pop and rave. Vocal numbers 'Telefon', 'Alright' and the shamelessly Depeche Mode-esque 'ESC' feel like plastic replicas of the real thing, but 'Hump Acid', 'Msndrstndng' and the other drum workouts all pack an authentic punch. Permanent Vacation has been bang on the money over the past two/three years, and while 'Borndom' falls short of being a catalogue essential, it's still a decent release.