Artist: Simian Mobile Disco
Release: Seraphim
Release Date: 9th April 2012
Jas Shaw and James Ford, aka Simian Mobile Disco, are getting ready to launch their new album, the enigmatically titled ‘Unpatterns’, on 14th May. The first single from the new LP is ‘Seraphim’, set to drop on the 9th April.
And the London-based techno outfit, known for their love of analogue production, really hit home with the new track. Production, as with Ford’s work with Florence & The Machine and the Arctic Monkeys amongst others, is highly polished and effective, and fans of SMD’s approach will feel that their wait for new material is not in vain. The days of the Naked Music compilations are evoked by ‘Seraphim’, with nods perhaps to Aphex Twin, Fatboy Slim and The Chems, but without sounding like anyone else but SMD.
The piece builds from an ethereal, atmospheric opening, with the first vocal snatch coming in at 0:21. The vox work well, filtered slightly behind the mix, giving the otherwise stripped back sound some soul.
What could be taken at face value as a simple, chugging arrangement, is in fact more complex, with three identifiable sections to it. Contrasting to the open, carefree start is a bleepy, acidy TB303 part at 1:45, which in turn adds to a return to the opening theme to fill the track out at 2:23. The vocal has a slightly late-night New York feel to it, whilst the beats and bleeps hint at a Berlin influence.
Light, airy but with hints of mysteriousness, ‘Seraphim’ is a noteworthy release from the ever-interesting SMD. Have a listen below, and pre order the album here – http://shop.wichita-recordings.com/PreOrder.aspx
