Cologne-based duo Kitbuilders return with Stupid Games, unveiling a striking hybrid of electro, new wave, IDM, and beyond. This release marks a long-awaited return for the partnership of singer Ripley and keyboarding Benway. Released via EC Underground, the album is a comprehensive journey through the duo’s legacy, gathering remastered archival gems alongside exclusive, unreleased material. From the whirring, grimy movement of “No Good (Version X)” to the atmospheric, otherworldly pull of “Slow Device,” the collection highlights the duo’s evolution from their 1997 origins to the present day.

Opening the album, “Tenderness” balances briskly captivating synth tones with a hypnotic vocal steadiness. Sturdy synth arps and clanging flashes of vibrancy coexist with a pulsing rhythmic presence to start, with sporadic backing glistening. “Will you tell me you won’t go with him? I’m sure that you will,” vocals let out with ominous intrigue, continuing with moody allure as brighter synth pad flourishes integrate seamlessly. The track is a masterclass in both mood and infectiousness, making for an apt commencement to a release that consistently impresses on both fronts.

Another standout track, “No Good (Version X)” exudes a whirring intensity for most of its duration — expanding from the initial industrial murkiness into effervescently charismatic synth and rhythmic interplay. Snippets of spoken-word entrancement appear beneath the fusing of arps and illuminated tones, falling back into a delectably grimy bridge around midpoint, and into a gripping “you’re no good for me” decisive vocal declaration.

The ensuing “Slow Device” also dazzles with a memorable atmospheric glow, notably more understated in its dreamier, spacey charm and ethereal yet otherworldly pull. The album’s title track invigorates as well, strutting a buzzy synth resonance and head-nodding percussive pulse that ventures wonderfully into an angsty vocal spiritedness and distorted rhythmic vigor. Stylish and melodic, Stupid Games is a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience.

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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.

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