Minimal Electropop. That's what Simian Mobile Disco is. Even though some of their sophomore album, Temporary Pleasure, is instrumental, electropop still applies perfectly. Simian Mobile Disco is two of the members of Simian. James Ford and Jas Shaw have been recording as Simian Mobile Disco since 2005 and have had two studio albums, a remix album, and a live album.
Indie Singers + Electropop = Win
Temporary Pleasure provides ample vocal talent for the obscure-minded listener. Opening the album is Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals) on "Cream Dream," a cute poppy track that builds up for almost two minutes before the beat drops in. Beth Ditto of The Gossip lends her powerful pipes to "Cruel Intentions" which glides along at an effortless pace. SMD and Ditto complement each other quite well. It's not a stomper of a track, but could be with the right remixes. As usual, Ditto's performance is sing-along worthy. On the quirky, bouncy track "Bad Blood," Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip) provides a jazzy vocal perfomance that is spot-on perfect for this production. The chorus has dark elements to it in some forboding synthwork. Jamie Lidell goes "Off the Map" with SMD, an in-your-face grunge-styled vocal delivery with clubby beats and a driving musical arrangement. This could do well with a remix that smooths some of the rough edges and extends it further. On "Turn Up the Dial," the Young Fathers provide a slow rap and a chanty chorus while SMD breaks it down with a sufficiently electro-hop beat. Sinuous and engaging, Telepathe (pronounced telepathy, a synthpop duo from Brooklyn) sing on a track that is asimilar from the rest of Temporary Pleasure. It's almost like they let Dancer In the Dark-era Bjork into the recording studio when this one was recorded. Finally, Chris Keating from Yeasayer (Brooklyn-based indie rock group) sings on the outstanding and quirky "Audacity of Huge" that simply begs for everyone's attention with the line "Why don't I get you?"
Electropop - Indie Singers still = Win
SMD isn't only good with vocalists though, as the first instrumental of the album, "10,000 Horses Can't Be Wrong" proves. This track is driving, pulsing, and hot. And once again I'm forced to wonder where artists get the names for their instrumental tracks. I suppose if 10,000 horses told me to like that track, I'd be hard-pressed to disagree with them. "Synthesize" makes more sense, featuring a vocal sample that proclaims "I was born to synthesize!" "Ambulance," the album's longest track (at 5:43), sounds like they are trying to revive their own track. I'd love to love this one, as it has some fun elements, but it mostly drowns in its own groove.
Summary
Temporary Pleasure is a consistent winner. While I agree with the sentiment of the title in that I'm not sure how long I'd listen to this album or even remember any of the tracks, while I'm listening it is pretty damn pleasurable.
Released September 2009 on Wichita Records.
Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
