Simian Mobile Disco, Attack Decay Sustain Release
Featured Album
An intense electro romp that owes as much to Technotronic as it does to Delia Derbyshire.
Created by Klaxons producer James Ford and James Shaw, his former band mate in defunct UK indie-rock group Simian, Attack Decay Sustain Release, their debut album as Simian Mobile Disco, is an intense electro romp that owes as much to Technotronic as it does Delia Derbyshire. But while the dance music press have somewhat predictably tarred them with the pink neon paintbrush of nu rave, this album is far from an image-obsessed angular odyssey. All it cares about is making you dance like a loon.
The opener, “Sleep Deprivation,” a track that is propelled by an epic synth riff and a bleep that sounds like a Trident submarine's sonar, sets the tone for 40 minutes of stripped-down analogue ingenuity that rarely pauses for air.
After catching your attention, the East Londoners quickly move into Tiga territory with “I Got This Down,” a track that is destined to be used in a thousand and one fashion shows. They then roll out the three previously released 12″ singles — “It's the Beat,” “Hustler” and “Tits & Acid” — in quick succession, and to devastating effect.
However, track seven, “I Believe,” lets the side down a bit. Dropping the tempo way below 100 BPM and recruiting former Simian frontman Simon Lord on the mic, it sounds like a bad George Michael impersonator trying to woo the judges at a Euro talent competition. Luckily the duo come to their senses and get back to some seriously sweaty dancefloor sonics with “Hotdog,” “Wooden” and “Love.”
Finishing with a “Scott,” a three-minute synthesiser wig-out that the BBC radiophonic workshop would have been proud to call their own, Attack Decay Sustain Release fades away leaving your mind and body a little bit fried, but exhilarated nonetheless.
