After having had TDF on the stereo for over a week now, and having had time to appreciate it's subtle nuances, I think it's a v.good single. It's not brilliant, but for a "pop band" (Which in subjective terms, they are) it is wonderfully contemporary. "Etape 2" is my fave, if for the fact that it does not have a definitive "motif" - every time I hear that stabbing synth, it sounds different, as if it's leading me somewhere different. The vocodered vocals are magnificent. I played it out at a club on Saturday and through a loud system they sound truly fantastic. No other band or artist can produce such a sound. It reminds me of listening to Expo 2000 last year in Paris. OK it was the UR version, but had obviously been reworked by them. It sounded both thundering (the kick drum was phenomenal if I remember) and had acres of space (which all great techno has) in which to imply sound. Techno's greatest weapon is the implication of sound. (Jeff Mills has always defined it as being the ability to imagine sound in between the beats) More importantly however, for a band that have been producing music for a period spanning 33 years, they are still at the forefront. They are not by definition an experimental band, in fact they defy definition, but TDF 03 proves that they can produce contemporary music that carries their trademark signature on it . Name me one artist who can still produce music that sounds at the cutting edge after 30 years in the business, and is also within the boundaries of popular music. I had always thought of KW's inevitable return with dread, purely because virtually no band has ever managed it with style. When I heard the new songs that were played live during '97 and '98 I was worried, because as some reviewers had put it, they sounded contemporary but without the Kraftwerk "sheen" and attention to detail that we know and love. Essentially they sounded as if they'd been knocked out in a few minutes. So thankfully they didn't release any new music in '99, and then decided to release something to coincide with TDF. It makes sense. Roll on the LP and the tour!