Simian Mobile Disco's debut
Attack Decay Sustain Release was admirable not only for the strength and energy of its productions, but also for its back-to-basics blueprint. With second albums that follow debut breakouts, however, come various hangers-on, which in the case of a dance act, take the form of copious vocal features. (Granted, the duo could have easily snagged these earlier as well, thanks to their pedigrees as rock producers.)
Temporary Pleasure opens with a familiar voice,
Gruff Rhys from
Super Furry Animals, and in an instant the setting dissolves from a glittery London club to the pastoral Welsh countryside. Yet to come are six more vocal features from various indie heroes or up-and-comers, but it's to
Simian Mobile Disco's credit that they shape each vocalist to the track and emerge with a unified, exciting sound. Each vocal turn -- whether it's
the Gossip's
Beth Ditto or
Yeasayer's
Chris Keating or
Diplo acquaintances
Telepathe or
Jamie Lidell or
Hot Chip's
Alexis Taylor -- becomes yet another angle on the dark end of '80s clubland, from synth pop of the
Soft Cell or Shannon variety to future-shock electro to acid house paranoia. James Shaw and
James Ford are still enforcing limitations on their sound, and while they may be smoothing out a few of the rough patches that would make a more interesting record, their sophomore follow-up is a worthy heir to the original. ~ John Bush