Berlin's breakbeat beast invites sailor-suited Japanese pop icon Hanayo into his lair for a duet. The idea is enough to make you nervous. Should the police be notified? As it turns out, Panacea is something of a teddy bear. Yes, folks, drum-and-bass' raging problem child has his softer side.
You wouldn't know it from "I Am TAMAGOTCHI" or "Monster Zungen," as a leeringly predatory Panacea savages Hanayo's childlike voice with breakbeat shrapnel. But she sounds quite comfortable within the crushing hip-hop embrace of "You Hungry Man," "Hallo Hitler," and "Pelo Pelo." The last of these, with its itchy guitar, funky keys, Pikachu-gurgle vocals, and reversed scratches, is downright irresistible. And would you believe that the pair manage a credible--if thoroughly spaced-out--cover of J.S. Bach's "Ich Steh' an Deiner Krippen Hier?" Under Hanayo's pacifying influence, Panacea even reveals a talent for trippy, Klaus Schulze-style synthscapes ("A Million Lightyears," "Coma"--featuring ex-choirboy Panacea in fine voice!) while retaining his penchants for abrasive noise ("O.S.L.") and barbarous rhythm ("Danger"). Huh. Maybe our bad street boy Panacea has found his better half in Hanayo. They certainly make a cute couple.
