Exit Popularity ContestThe title says it all. This album is a statement, saying that Stephan is done with the "pop star" phase of his career. And in a way, that's probably the best thing about this album, which itself is a compilation of 3 previous released EP's that were exclusively released on vinyl in limited editions.If you expect anything like previous iterations from Groth, you'll probably be majorly disappointed. There are no vocals, no hooks, in fact I would say there are no "hits" on this album at all. But that's not the Groth that's playing here. The Groth playing here is unrestrained, free from the classic songwriting formulas, playing with nothing but riffs and themes that feel solid and extremely catchy, but never do you feel like you are listening to a classic Apop record. Where in older albums stuff like this may have been explored to a lesser degree, here his sonic experimentation and knack for oldschool synthesizers reaches its full potential and it's absolutely amazing to listen to. If you are reminded of classic champions like Kraftwerk, Jarre, Vangelis, Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream and Neu! you won't be mistaken, the album contains numerous intentional references to these timeless pillars of electronic music.And that's how the music ends up feeling, timeless. While it's all made with intentionally old analogue synthesizers and has that late 70's sound to it, there is an unmistakeable timeless feel to the music. It sounds out of time, a pure product of Groth's mind and part of his sonic universe. This might not be the most accessible Apop album, and I doubt it's going to sell the most copies.But there is a saying I like. A great artist never gives people what they want, he gives them what they need.In a world where digital downloads have become the norm, and music has become consumed like fast food, Groth is here to remind us that music is not just entertainment or something you put on your iPod to listen to while you work or party, it can be art, it can be something more meaningful and even music that has not a single lyric can touch you in ways you never expected. And a record can be more than just a medium for music, it itself can be a rare piece of art that, you have to take care of, you have to be careful with, and you have to give proper love and attention because it can't just be put on your iPod for quick consumption, you have to give it time.Though that being said, having the songs on CD is a great way to experience these amazing tracks without a record player. I highly recommend picking it up if you're a fan of late 70's electronic music and krautrock.Exit Popularity Contest might be a bit of a time machine album, taking us back to "better times" in music, but it also is the kind of album we desperately need these days, so it feels very much like a reaction to the current state of things. And there is a lot of soul and passion here and a definitive "mission" behind the music that I've never felt before with Apop.