Cryadmoure is the label co-founded by Guy-Manuel from Daft Punk, so this
compilation disc’s focus on bouncy, dance-y synth pop isn’t all that
surprising. What is a bit odd is the relatively few artists that
contributed tracks. The first two (and five overall) are from Le Knight
Club, and then the continuous mix blends into Crydajam, the first of their
three cuts. Then we get the first of three cuts from Archigram, the
album’s mixer. Two tracks later is the sole cut from Deelat (not to be
confused with Dee-lite) and Play Paul rounds out the lineup. Not that
just five artists on a full-length comp is in and of itself a bad thing,
but it would have been nice to see some “vs” action at least.
OK, so that’s what there isn’t. What is there? Well, kids, back in the
day we used to call this stuff disco ? 4/4 back beat, some riffy guitars
and some silly vocals. Mix in some synth lines and call it electro if you
like, but this is still music for dancing, prefereably with a mirror ball
and lots of flashing lights. Archigram’s “Carnaval” has some nice fat horn
samples and “Doggystyle” is kinda funky, although if we never get another
song with that title it would be just fine. The album opening “Rhumba” from
Le Knight Club has a catchy opening and starts things swinging fairly
well.and their beachy “Palm Beat” (that’s palm *tree* naughty ones) is a
decent enough closer. But it’s a bit formulaic, as is most of the rest of
the album.
And if dance records were dinner, this wouldn’t be a filet, but hey, sometimes a Royale is all you need. To pinch a quote from the Motor Booty Affair, “amusing, but not amazing.”
