Mark McCabe New Releases: Simian Mobile Disco
Image via simianmobiledisco.comTemporary Pleasure is quite a departure from the highly acclaimed debut Attack Sustain Decay Release. With people still new raving to the strains of Hustler and Tits & Acid, Simian Mobile Disco take a different route with an album full of collaborations.
Guest spots from Beth Ditto from The Gossip, Young Fathers (as seen at Sonar), Gruff Rhys from the Super Furry Animals, and Jamie Lidell deliver a more thoughtful album. Even though it lacks some of the bleeps and whistles of the first, it still offers something highly original. Each vocalist contributes something different from a disco driven Beth Ditto on Cruel Intentions to Gruff Rhys’ clever word play on the opening track Cream Dream.
Such a varied album might not please everyone but it still has synthesisers, bleeps, and some thumping bass, it’s just that they’re balanced out with a more intelligent, softer side and clever lyrics. To me the highlights are from Beth Ditto and the Young Fathers but the whole album is definitely worth a listen and likely to grow on you once you get over the difference to the first album.
It might not have some of the stand out tracks of Attack Sustain Decay Release but this is an excellent album with good music and excellent production throughout (would you expect anything less?). It will be interesting to see what remixes come out over the next few months. I’m happy that they’ve moved on from the first album and shown the breadth they’re capable of.