We’ve been used to get several maxis of Wumpscut after each new album. “Blondi” focalizes one of my favorite cuts of the “Evoke”-cd entitled “Rush”. This is one of the hardest pieces of the latest album, which next to the Wumpscut-version has been remixed by 3 pother formations. The Wumpscut mix remains a great piece of dark electronics and containing the pop-atmospheric touch Rudy R has been taken now. Dismantled, Naked Beat and Der Blutharsch (a band Wumpscut seems to like to been remixed by) have delivered very diversified mixes of this song. I personally get wild by the icy and atmospheric remix by Naked Beat, which is my favorite of this maxi! The 2 tracks left have been centered on the “Don’t go”-song. We first get the Wumpscut-mix, which we already knew for its atmospheric and bombastic interpretation while the “Eighty 64C short cut” by Wumpscut is a bit different. This mix is more polished and influenced by the 80s electronics while the female vocals add this typical sterile impression of the 80s, but which Wumpscut has already used numerous times all over its career and discography! This maxi is really enjoyable! (DP:7)DP.

The first single of the upcoming Wumpscut album, Blondi offers very little. As a six-track single, it contains the original track, three mixes of Rush, and two remixes of Don't Go.

Rush, the main track of the CD, seems to be a midrange Wumpscut song; one meant for the dance floor, but by no means near to Wumpscut's best, while the remixes sound only like variations, rather than creative reworks.

Don't Go is spoiled for me by the horrible second remix. While the addition of female vocals may be a nice idea, and may appeal to some people, I hate it. But I'm not a huge fan of female vocals as of late, to be honest.

This is a single for Wumpscut fanatics and DJs. The rest of us should just wait for the album (and since my computer crashing has delayed me putting this review up, and the full album has now been released, just buying it).

Squid @ May 2005

Posted: Monday, March 27, 2006
By: Steven Gray

Quick on the heels of the largely successful Bone Peeler, :Wumpscut: has released Blondi, a six-track MCD as a pre-release to their forthcoming album, Evoke, coming to stores April 4. Tracks include two songs and four remixes for a total of six tracks. Fans of Bone Peeler will find more attention to well-constructed synth patterns, enhanced by Rudy's unique talent for creating a sense of impending doom. "Rush" is well-paced, with a danceable beat, and engaging lyrics. The version by Dismantled is powerful and unyielding, while listeners will find Naked Beat's version to be slower and more atmospheric. Der Blutharsch finishes the trio of "Rush" remixes with a heavy, guitar-laced edit. "Don't Go" is a fast-paced, longing duet with Jane M. The Eighty 64C mix takes a different direction and has the hint of an '80s euro dance mix element to it. Since its formation in 1991, :Wumpscut: has become synonymous with dark, hard-hitting dance floor hits, and this is no exception. Blondi is certain to join the increasing number of instant :Wumpscut: classics.

By Mike Adair

Serving up two new songs and featuring four remixes, industrial fiend Rudy Ratzinger delivers a new EP under the :Wumpscut: name. Through Blondi, Ratzinger showcases two distinct sides of his franchise with the menacing and delightfully sinister “Rush” co-existing with the gentler, more emotive “Don’t Go.” This is not to say one track is better than the other, they are both great — just in different ways. The downfall of this disc actually lies in the bland “Rush” remixes provided by Dismantled and Naked Beat, which do nothing but beef up the track listing. Der Blutharsch’s take is fortunately more redeeming, offering a powerfully harsh reconstruction. The “Don’t Go (Eighty 64C)” :Wumpscut: remix tackles an unexpected pop sound that effectively highlights Jane M’s accompanying vocals from the original. Still, if none of this gets you excited, this EP is just a preview of the new Evoke LP. For those of you who couldn’t care less about remixes and B-sides, grab the full length instead. (Metropolis)

Dancing destruction darkness diabolically rears its head with the tantalization offered by god :Wumpscut: on the "Blondi" 6-song single, a tide-you-over to keep your teeth gnashing in wicked glee until the next full length. Pushing heavy beats intermingled with echoey electro melodies while bad ol' WS growls at you over the sound of air raid sirens. Ah, the refreshing cold nihilism :Wumpscut: offers. The main track, "Rush", appears three other times after the opening :W: version, being re-envisioned by Dismantled, who somehow brings a spaciousness to the background; Naked Beat, who invigorates the song with an ethereal organic override; and Der Blutharsch brings a tribal chanting meets machinist tone. The single also includes two versions of the song "Don't Go."

-- review by Kristofer Upjohn

For almost fifteen years, Rudy Ratzinger, better known as :wumpscut:, has been steadfastly plowing ahead with his dark vision of electronic music. Blondi, which serves as an appetizer for his current full-length, Evoke, scratches his remix itch by toying with two of Evoke's tracks, "Rush" and "Don't Go". In addition to the album version, "Rush" gets three remix treatments. Relative to the :wumpscut: version, Gary Zon of Dismantled brings the low-end forward. Unfortunately, most of the song's action is in the higher registers and Ratzinger's growling vocal, so most of it is formless bass menace and a 4/4 thump. Bruno S. (Naked Beat)'s version is more effective, focusing on the threat at the song's heart; by building the mood slowly, he generates fearsome expectations. Sadly, they never reach a climax; the song fades into Albin Julius's (Der Blutarsch) own remix. The third remix, however, pays off. By revamping the beat, adding chanting vocals and rethinking the bass line, Julius creates a powerful goth mood that dominates the original song's Skinny Puppy rehashing.

"Don't Go" also fares better in its remixed version. This take, curtosy of Ratzinger, moves the song in a New Wave direction. "Eighty 64C Short Cut" mix comes off as, well, fun, replacing Ratzinger's growling performance with female vocals and scaling back on the rhythm's inherent menace. Based upon the song's shocking female New Wave hook, it's also the source of the EP's title.

It's too much to hope that :Wumpscut: really want to change their artistic direction, but this version is the most interesting thing Rudy Ratzinger has done in a long time.

-- Ron Davies