**1/2 MDFMK

(Republic)

Fresh from the break-up of KMFDM, band members Sascha Konietzko and Tim Skold -- along with singer Lucia Cifarelli (formerly of Drill) but without KMFDM's En Esch -- have reconstituted themselves as MDFMK. Reversing the original five initials suggests that MDFMK's music will sound only slightly reshuffled from the hellish (but groovy) abrasiveness favored by KMFDM fans, but no: in these 11 tracks, the spaciness of trance reigns. And does so by adhering to trance's techno-based, noisily intricate basics. Where KMFDM jams stomped with boots on, growled and spat, MDFMK's songs glide on the surface, moving lightly, even smoothly, just as trance is expected to do. The spite and sarcasm of KMFDM -- disturbing to those who listened closely -- is gone too. In its place, from the fast techno of "Now" and "Control" to the sweetish narcissism of "Be like Me" and "Transmutation" to the woozy and violent joys of "Gasoline" and "Torpedoes," one laughs and shouts, roars and raves like all the rest.

-- Michael Freedberg