In many ways Markus Kienzl's debut solo album "Product" sounds like outtakes from the Sofa Surfers full-length, "See The Light", and it's not just becuase he's a member of the band, or that Oddateee, featured throughout See The Light, also drops lyrics in a number of the tracks here. It's largely because Markus Kienzl continues working tense, darkly futuristic moods into superbly slow dub-hop grooves.

1. Battery (feat. Oddateee)
2. The Hood (feat. Oddateee)
3. Like A Ghost (feat. Barbara Stanzl)
4. Dundy Lion (feat. Paul St. Hilaire)
5. Chemical Reasons (feat. Oddateee)
6. Send Some Love (feat. Singing Bird)
7. Spanish Town (feat. Oddateee)
8. Peace Demonstration (feat. Oddateee)
9. Lost
10. Found

In comparison to the Sofa Surfers sound, Markus Kienzl's solo work can be more aggressive and raw. The tension is more tense, moods are rougher, and the images created of dark, futuristic urban streets more vivid. Kienzl drops some really nice grooves as he serves up a unique, dusky, and lush sound.

Product opens with the very slow tempo breaks of "Battery", featuring Oddateee's unique spoken-word style that gives the song a dually hip-hop and dark-dub flavor. Oddateee carries through with some dope vocal syncopation in "The Hood", a faster, but still slow tempo hip-hop breaks piece with subtle but mean synth work.

The syrupy voice of Barbara Stanzl wanders through the next track, "Like A Ghost". This one wraps around you like a warm, familiar blanket, in a classic triphop style that's strongly reminiscent of Attica Blues, with great, simple bass work, subtle percussion, and a sweetly heavy mood.

"Dundy Lion" brings on a tense, hip-hop, dub style with vocals by Paul St. Hilaire (aka Tikiman), a strong personality in Berlin's reggae and dub scene. "Chemical Reasons" brings back Oddateee in a hard-edged, down tempo, distrorted way. "Send Some Love" featuring the voice of Singing Bird (aka Colliston White) is a really nicely done track that's perfect for futuristic, dark, dub lovers.

It's vital that anyone who was into Sofa Surfers' "See The Light" get their hands on Markus Kienzl's "Product". Short story: great album.

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