Worsel Strauss is a Frankfurt, Germany, based recording and performing artist who has worked under various monikers in the past, these days most of his work is centered around modular synthesizers. Schani Wolf (also based in Frankfurt) has a similar background to Strauss, but more with the mindset of traditional composer than electronica producer. 'Eigenwert' (roughly translated, "intrinsic Value") is not their first collaboration together, but perhaps their first under their own names. It is an album of 12 instrumental electronica tracks with a good old school flavor. Although there are a number of musical influences present (krautrock among them), the sound here evokes a certain retro-electronic vibe, more like the melodicism of Yellow Magic Orchestra than the minimalism of Kraftwerk. Actually, more like the early solo projects of Yukihiro Takahashi and Ryuichi Sakamoto which were more experimental than YMO's main oeuvre. The tracks are generally concise and playful, and sometimes it's quite easy to tell who spawned what, such as the relatively strong melody on "Welcome to O" (Wolf) and the rhythmic experimentalism of "Nowhere near Al-Bassa" (Strauss).

The duo had only certain restrictions on making 'Eigenwert,' such as all the music was done on physical machines (no computer software, and a list of 35 pieces of gear with a chart showing what was used on what track inside the CD cover), employing odd time signatures instead of a straight 4/4 throughout, and the track had to be something they both really liked (there was an apparent abundance to choose from). They also call the music "Retronica." Interestingly enough, the album was mastered by Kramer of Galaxie 500 and Bongwater fame. What I really like about this album is its balance between the melodic and experimental, but even the experimental has certain pop sensibilities, as in the melodic repetition on "Must I always be a worker." There is some guitar used on the album perhaps most notably heard on "Taking a new town" which is the most overtly traditional rock and krautrock track on the album with its staccato monotone bassline and straight ahead drumkit rhythm. It came unexpectedly out of the blue and was ultimately welcome. Even though the album is 41 minutes it will likely seem shorter than that because Worsel and Shani keep you amused and leave you no time to be bored. As there are no vocals/song lyrics on the album it is likely to be overlooked commercially, which is a shame, because there is a good market for retro electronica or retronica bands, and the music on 'Eigenwert' has much to offer.