Simian Mobile Disco - Live ALBUM REVIEW

Simian Mobile Disco are an English duo that make really clean music. I don't mean that in a bad way at all. Their music is just so smooth, listenable, yet danceable, compelling. They combine elements of house, techno, and pop, and it just comes out so slick and masterful, as if they've been doing this for years. They've been doing it for eight years, to be exact, out of the ashes of the four-piece indie pop group Simian (who you may know through their irresistibly catchy collaboration with Justice, We Are Your Friends). The decision to break up was completely worth it - the new band emerged with their debut 2007 album, Attack Decay Sustain Release, which despite being released (ironically) the same day as Justice's smash hit Cross, scored SMD some fans.


They've come a while since then, and their third album, Unpatterns, was one of my favorite albums of 2012. It was an album that demanded to be danced to in a live setting, and SMD is happy to oblige. Their live shows aren't as flashy as, say, Deadmau5's - their visual setup is just a bunch of colored strobe lights. It's the music that matters, which is why they've given us this new live album, their first since Live In Japan in 2008.

Their setlist is a combination of music old and new. This live album starts with 5 songs of their newer material that seamlessly flow together. "Cerulean", my favorite song off of Unpatterns, sounds great live, especially when it transitions into an energized rework of "It's The Beat". Their first two albums go largely unrepresented here, sadly, save for a few songs off of ADSR and only one off of Temporary Pleasure. When they do play their old material, it's fantastic. They know how to rework their old stuff so it still sounds fresh. "Hustler Jam", for example, keeps the vocals of the original and places them over a frenetic beat that excites the audience, before diving into the fun and frantic "Aspic". I can't necessarily pick out a bad moment in this set, but when the tempo slows down and "Seraphim" boots up, the band loses a bit of momentum. The album ends on a high note, fortunately. The one-two punch of "Put Your Hands Together" followed by "Sleep Deprivation" is something to behold.

It's not a very good representation of the best of their discography (If it was, "I Believe" would certainly be in there). But SMD knows how to hold your attention and keep you dancing. The mixing in this album is good as well. The audience's cheers are audible, but never too loud. The music itself has an ominous echo, but it actually works in the album's favor, and ups the atmosphere a little. If you've ever wondered what Simian Mobile Disco has to offer live, this album would be a good place to start. It's the next best thing to actually being there.

Favorite tracks: "Sleep Deprivation", "Put Your Hands Together", "Interference", "Hustler Jam"
Least favorite track: N/A

My score: 8 out of 10.