Simian Mobile Disco – Unpatterns released on Witchita Recordings

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Simian Mobile Disco – Unpatterns released on Witchita Recordings

There are few artists in electronic dance music today who have managed to remain as regularly current and ultimately successful as Simian Mobile Disco. Largely responsible for the popularization of the current maximalist trends of mainstream dance music with the release of their 2007 album Attack Decay Sustain Release hits such as “I Believe” and “Hustler” combined the songwriting prowess of Simian with the production capabilities of James Ford and Jas Shaw. The ensuing hype pawed the way for electro pioneers like Justice, Tiga, and Erol Alkan and their now unquestionable status within electronic dance music.

Fast forward to 2012 and the production duo are the figureheads of their own record label Witchita Recordings (which released 2010’s techno influenced Delicacies) have released two stunning singles with punk princess Beth Ditto as well as having conquered audiences worldwide with their stunning live show. Unpatterns is the third studio album from the group and it doesn’t fail to impress. Oozing of analogue warmth and songwriting finesse, it combines the most memorable hooks of ADSR with the relentless momentum of Delicacies. One of the bands greatest assets is their ability to incorporate current dance music trends into their own creations. Album opener “I Waited for You” is a warm house anthem indebted to the sounds of Julio Bashmore and Joy Orbison without sounding cliched. It’s unsurprisingly catchy while still giving a sense of depth and finesse. James and Jas have embraced their nationality throughout the long player and the sounds of the UK underground.  Furthermore the group are dedicated hardware users and their dedication and skill is apparent throughout the album. The LP is littered with 808 kick drums and 909 percussion while tracks like chugging techno hybrid “Cerulean” is a maze of well structured automation and arpeggiation.

The sustainability of the groups work that made songs like the “Hustler” so timeless,is readily apparent tracks like “Your Love Ain’t Fair”. The narrative is inherently musical and uplifiting, the lack of lyrics only serving to strengthen its appeal. A personal favorite of mine is the slow starting but ultimately rewarding “Put Your Hands Together” This borderline blaxploitation tune encourages the listener to put his/her hands together (hopefully in sync with feet and hips) It’s almost tribal in it’s rhythmic unity and stands out as an album highlight. Fans of the groups earlier work will find themselves at home with melodic muscle of “Interference” which harkens back to the best work of the Chemical Brothers.

Simian Mobile Disco have always been pioneers in an industry of copycats and Unpatterns is current, engaging, and in many ways a culmination of the groups previous work. With a touring schedule set to grace festivals such as Sonar, SW4, and Mysteryland one can only hope the group is able to spread their music as far as possible  and get the recognition they deserve. Albums this good don’t come around in dance music very often, start making your to make your way down to your local record shop and grab yourself a copy of this in wax.

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