Formed in 1969 and based in London, the long-running Ebony Steelband scored a huge hit and long-selling talking point in 2019 with "Pan Machine," a singular Kraftwerk covers album reinterpreting a string of the group's classics with a full steelpan orchestra. Now, as a Japan-exclusive project, two tracks — "The Model" and "Tour De France" — have been cut to a 7-inch single. The originals, built from Kraftwerk's spare, mechanical electronic beats, are played elegantly on steel drums (that quintessentially tropical pan sound) and arranged into a relaxed, tropical ensemble — yet these covers still masterfully bottle the faintly chilly, cool krautrock atmosphere of the source material. Right down to the artwork, it's pure Kraftwerk manner and utterly charming. A warm, heartening set of covers for the cold season. Very highly recommended. (Original Japanese text by COMPUMA)