Ahhh... it's like my sharp-suited Arp-playing dream men have walked in my door, whispering the secret, coded seduction words of "attack decay sustain release" (basic tone processing, for all you engineering types, or coded words of love, for the romantics out there).
I'm a keen fan of the indie funk. In fact, in times past, it has caused me problems due to its uncoolness. I think I was just ahead of my time. In the late 80s, I hid my love of Renegade Soundwave, Neneh Cherry and De La Soul. I was rather furtive about my collection of Italo-disco 12inch singles. I relaxed a bit in the early 90s when it was "okay" to like Primal Scream, 808 State and the Shamen, and as a result, went on a bit of a raver bender for a few years.
I recall, when I first moved to London, going to see A Certain Ratio, somewhere round Kings Cross, in a packed warehouse venue, and feeling "at last, I'm vindicated!"
So I had more than a smile when the new Simian Mobile Disco album dropped through my letterbox. To say that I have been "anticipating" this album is an understatement. Gagging for it, you could say. And what a slice of lovingly crafted, acid house retrospective it is. But that's not to denigrate it: this isn't retrograde revivalism, this is clever and new, futuristic yet somehow reminiscent.
Simian Mobile Disco don't fuck about: after the pure acid house intro of "Sleep Deprivation" things start off with a kick in the head with "I Got This Down". Even out of my tinny Mac speakers this screams "monster track" and I'm desperate for some bass bins.
Quick to the dancefloor we proceed, and "It's The Beat" is indeed the bomb, I'm desperate suddenly to get down to the club, tonight. However, things soon settle down to a 4am filter disco rhythm with "Hustler". "Tits & Acid" is that filler track inside the set, but "I Believe" is for the masses, the barnstormer hit single, this year's "Groovejet" but twigged out with acid house flourishes.
Uh huh, I'm in Italo-disco heaven with "Hotdog", but I think I won't embarrass myself. However, we're back to four-on-the-floor, steady ground with "Wooden", a gorgeous track which reminds me of the melodious expansiveness of Orbital. "Love" might be a bit too Scissor Sisters for me (it's probably just that Heaven 17 bass sound), but their final track, "Scott" is a quality slice of Mixmaster Morris-type soundscape.
Where's my whistle, then?
Attack Decay Sustain Release is released on 18th June through Wichita.
UPDATE: stream the entire album in full, for a limited time, here.
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