SONG OF THE DAY [#298]

'no social' | the shortwave set

so here's the new single from one of my favorite bands from the past couple of years. i really, really, really love these guys. their debut, 'the debt collection,' was super great record, an album of self-described 'victorian funk.'

with their second album, 'replica sun machine' due out next month, they've ditched their copy, paste, edit approach to music and they sound much more like a full-fledged band then ever before. part of this could be due to danger mouse [gnarls barkley, the good, the bad and the queen, gorillaz, etc] taking over the controls after expressing an admiration for 'the debt collection.' that's not to say they've completely abandoned their signature sound, but rather they've expanded it. it's really a pretty remarkable album, in my estimation. they harmonies sail effortlessly [and bare more than a slight resemblance to the best of abba's melodies], the production is tight but but not overly meticulous, and ulrika's voice is still capable of eliciting a sense of nostalgia she so effectively did on 'the debt collection.'

in short, 'replica sun machine' joins white shoes & the couples company, m83, guillemots, and the submarines on 'fave albums from the first four months of 2008.' be sure to check it out. it's frakking awesome.

→ the shortwave set: no social [radio edit] | video
→ the shortwave set: yesterdays to come [my fave from the new album!]
→ the shortwave set: casual use [one-off single -- yes, that's a madness song they sampled]
→ the shortwave set: repeat to fade | video [from 'the debt collection']