James Ellis Ford and James Shaw make up the UK duo known as Simian Mobile Disco. Their sound is a mix of house, electro, and funk, and their debut CD "Attack Decay Sustain Release" has already made waves in their homeland and is just now starting to get noticed on American shores. They have already done remixes for artists like Peaches and Muse and are hoping to make a mark with their own original productions.
"Hustler" is the first single and has a remix provided by Armand Van Helden along with their own extended mix. With bitchy diva vocals by Char Johnson, the original mix is a funky electro slice with lots of synths and a pumping bassline. It has a dirty feel to it that makes it fun to bop along to, though probably not a good choice for any late night or even peak hour dancing. It is a perfect choice for any sort of electronic or alternative night or even for those taste-making DJs who like to mix things up a little (no pun intended). For a remix that's a bit more club-friendly, skip ahead to Armand Van Helden's remix. It's still as dirty as electro as can be, but Armand somehow adds some extra beats and drums that make it a bit easier to add into your sets. All the attitude and futuristic beats are intact with some extra funk added thanks to the groovier bass line.
This style of music isn't exactly my favorite, but I can appreciate a good track when I hear it and Simian Mobile Disco give us exactly that. "Hustler" is already climbing the charts and I'm sure it won't be long before more people are rocking out to their unique sound.
