Producers/remixers James Ford and James Shaw formed Simian Mobile Disco in 2005, following their departure from the experimental electronic rock band Simian.
Delicacies, SMD’s third album, centers around tech-house instrumentals based around slow builds, minimal melodies, and wide-open, between-beat negative spaces as well as a second disc of the tracks mixed together. The tracks are all named after foods, but don't expect any sensual material. Delicacies is a hard-hitting nine-tracker of pounding club cuts, most of them over eight minutes long. Unlike the past two albums, they ditched vocals altogether here, creating an album that caters less to a pop dance music audience and more towards those who like to dance at non-mainstream clubs or for dance music aficionados and makers. Yet like great dance producers from Kraftwerk to Kompakt, they know how to balance innovative sounds with simple, feet-tugging beats. Lacking the retro flair of 2007's Attack Decay Sustain Release or the parade of guest features on 2009's Temporary Pleasure, Delicacies is still a delicious treat for dance fans.
Try my favorite track, “Nerve Salad” here.
Get your own copy of Simian Mobile Disco's Delicacies here.
